2026 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship: Bracket, Schedule & Scores
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship is set to culminate in the Women’s Frozen Four, taking place on March 22, 2026. This year, the prestigious event will be hosted at the Pegula Ice Arena located in University Park, Pennsylvania. The championship will see a familiar matchup as Ohio State faces off against Wisconsin for the fourth consecutive year.
Championship Details
The field for the tournament was determined during a selection show that aired on March 8, 2026. Ohio State earned the top seed in the championship. In total, five conferences received automatic bids, while an additional six teams were selected at-large for this year’s tournament.
Schedule
Here’s a quick overview of the key dates for the championship:
- Selection Show: March 8, 2026, on ESPNU at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
- Semifinals: March 20, 2026
- Final: March 22, 2026
Recent Championship History
Wisconsin enters the tournament as the defending national champion, having secured victory over Ohio State in the 2025 final, which ended 4-3 in overtime. This championship marked the third consecutive year that these two teams met for the title.
| Year | Champion | Record | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wisconsin | 38-1-2 | 4-3 (OT) | Ohio State | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 36-4-0 | 1-0 | Wisconsin | Durham, N.H. |
| 2023 | Wisconsin | 29-10-2 | 1-0 | Ohio State | Duluth, Minn. |
| 2022 | Ohio State | 32-6-0 | 3-2 | Minnesota Duluth | University Park, Pa. |
| 2021 | Wisconsin | 17-3-1 | 2-1 (OT) | Northeastern | Erie, Pa. |
| 2020 | Canceled due to COVID-19 | ||||
| 2019 | Wisconsin | 35-4-2 | 2-0 | Minnesota | Hamden, Conn. |
| 2018 | Clarkson | 36-4-1 | 2-1 (OT) | Colgate | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| 2017 | Clarkson | 32-4-5 | 3-0 | Wisconsin | St. Charles, Mo. |
The upcoming championship promises to be an exciting event for fans and teams alike as they aim for glory in women’s ice hockey. Stay tuned for updates as the tournament progresses.
