Badgers One Step Closer to Defending Their Title

The Wisconsin Badgers are headed back to the NCAA Frozen Four after bouncing back from the WCHA Final Round with a shutout. 

In the NCAA Regional Round the Badgers faced the Quinnipiac Bobcats in another show stopper to advance. The Badgers wasted no time with Kelly Gorbatenko opening the scoring just over two and a half minutes into the opening frame. Rounding out the first period was Kirsten Simms on the power-play to double the Badgers lead into the second period. 

In the second the Badgers started it off again this time under a minute and a half into the period with Adéla Šapovalivová finding the back of the net. Then to end the period it was Kelly Gorbatenko with her second off the game, moving her to hat trick watch, with a 4-0 lead. 

In the third period the Badgers ran away with the game as Lacey Eden found the short-handed goal to take a 5-0 lead. But the Badgers weren’t done yet with Kelly Gorbatenko finding her hat trick as Wisconsin advanced to the Frozen Four. 

The Badgers entered the NCAA Regional Round off a loss in the WCHA Final Faceoff Championship to rival Ohio State. But, Wisconsin left that long in the rearview as they chased back-to-back championships. 

There have been a lot of standouts for the strong Wisconsin team this season on both ends of the ice. On the backend the Badgers have had Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards and Ava McNaughton, while on the offensive end they’ve had Lacey Eden, Kelly Gorbatenko and Kirsten Simms to name a few. 

Starting with senior Caroline Harvey who has continued to stack up the awards this season bringing home the WCHA Defender and Player of the Year. Along with that Harvey was named a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is awarded to the top player in Women’s Division 1 hockey. This continued to her Olympic debut bringing home a gold medal, tournament MVP, and Best Defender. She was also named to the All-Star Team, leading the tournament in points and assists with a +14. Harvey is the favorite to go first overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft, but the question still remains who will hold that pick when it comes time. 

Joining her is linemate and bestie Laila Edwards, the pair have been a dynamic duo both for the Badgers and the US National Team. The defender now has 42 points this season, and has recorded at least 1 point in each of the Badgers playoff games. Edwards also made her Olympic debut this year, where she continued to shine with 2 goals and 6 assists. With her continued performance Edwards is looking at going in the first round of the 2026 PWHL Draft as well, leaving many speculating the pair may be split up. But after the 2025 Draft and the movement we saw live they very well may end up together on the professional level.

On the front end is fifth year senior Lacey Eden who has been a consistent force for the Badgers this season now sitting with 75 points on the season. Joining her up front is senior Kirsten Simms who made her Olympic debut for the USA this year, bringing home gold in her inaugural run. This season Simms has 56 points with the Badgers. 

The Frozen Four is set for Friday March 20 with the Ohio State Buckeyes taking on the Northeastern Huskies at 4 PM (EST) and the Wisconsin Badgers taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 7:30 PM (EST). 

Over the last six years the Buckeyes or Badgers have walked away with the National Title, will history repeat? And if so, for who?