As their season slowly approaches, the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team were ranked the No. 1 team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) coaches poll for the 2024-25 season after receiving 46 points.
After coming up just short of the national title in 2024, the Badgers will look to capture the trophy once again in 2025.
The reigning national champions — the Ohio State Buckeyes — pulled in just behind the Badgers as the second-ranked team in the nation. The Minnesota Golden Gophers were deemed the third-ranked team with Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State not far behind.
The 2023-24 season was memorable for Wisconsin despite not taking home the national crown. The Badgers won their 10th WCHA playoff title behind star players such as Kirsten Simms, Casey O'Brien and Caroline Harvey.
Along with the No. 1 ranking, some Badgers stars were rewarded with individual recognition in the preseason honors.
Coming off a career-high 75 points last season, junior forward Kirsten Simms was granted the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. Simms is looking to follow up her WCHA Player of the Year, First-Team All-American, All-WCHA First Team and WCHA Forward of the Year with an even better season in 2025.
Along with Simms, Harvey received some well-deserved recognition in the preseason honors. The senior captain earned a spot on the Preseason All-WCHA Team alongside Simms. Harvey posted an amazing plus/minus of +54 in the 2023-2024 season, ranking third in the WCHA.
Wisconsin is once again in good hands with head coach Mike Johnson, who is entering his 21st season with the Badgers. Johnson not only coached seven NCAA championship teams in Wisconsin but is also the most successful coach in NCAA collegiate women's hockey history. Having someone like Johnson behind the bench is a pretty big boost for this Badgers team.
The Badgers look ready to get back on the ice with the season kicking off in just over a week. Wisconsin will open the season with an at home series against Lindenwood on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
