Wisconsin fans are especially happy with their women’s sports teams after a year of victories graced the Badgers. Wisconsin boasts some of the best athletes in the Big Ten conference and around the nation, and the records they’ve put up this year prove that.
Women’s hockey, soccer and volleyball teams have thrived under the challenges they’ve faced this season. The Wisconsin women’s hockey team won the national title under the leadership of four co-captains. Women’s soccer made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2021 for only the fifth time in program history. Volleyball marked their 14th consecutive season of 20 or more wins.
Women’s hockey
The women’s hockey program sought revenge this season. Pair that motivation with elite coaching and a depth to their lines that is unstoppable, Wisconsin set up its season to win the national championship.
Last year, Wisconsin fell in the NCAA Championship game to Ohio State. Wisconsin and Ohio State have faced off against each other in the championship game for the past three seasons. The Badgers beat the Buckeyes back in 2023, but their loss in the 2024 championship was enough motivation for a dominating 2025 season.
Wisconsin’s only loss of the season came to rivals Ohio State in November, during regular season play. When the tournament came around, Wisconsin knew they needed to get past the Buckeyes in the national championship game — and they were ready.
Nearing the end of the title game, the Badgers were down 2-3 when junior forward Laila Edwards noticed an illegal play made by Ohio State. Wisconsin was awarded a single penalty shot and head coach Mark Johnson asked his bench, “Who wants it?”
Junior forward Kristen Simms stepped onto the ice. The team knew that without this score, they likely would go home with silver.
But Simms scored and sent the game into overtime, giving the Badgers the boost they needed to continue playing. Simms scored again in overtime to win the game.
“I wanted to see who wanted to step up and own it,” said Johnson. “Who felt comfortable in this setting because you can’t have one ounce of negativity in your mind as you pick the puck up.”
Wisconsin women’s hockey has created so many memorable moments like this one and has become one of the most notable programs in the NCAA’s history. The eighth championship win further placed Wisconsin ahead of the crowd as the university with the most NCAA titles of any women’s hockey team.
Under Johnson’s direction, six players have won the Patty Kazmaier Award, an honor for the nation’s top NCAA Division I women’s hockey player.
Casey O’Brien is one of those notable players in the roster this season. She faced tough competition for the award from teammates Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards. O’Brien received the award the day before the NCAA championship.
O’Brien works to place herself back among teammates after a huge award and highlights the dedication the entire team put in to pull off the win. This leadership contributes heavily to the success of Wisconsin.
“All three of us wanted one of the other two top-3 finalists to win,” O’Brien said. “We didn’t care who it was, we were just happy the trophy was coming back to Wisconsin.”
After the performance the Badgers put up in the final game, each player deserves the praise. Wisconsin’s ability to find success in challenging environments comes from the depth they have in their lines.
Wisconsin women’s hockey ended their 2024-25 season with a 38-1-2 record.
Women’s soccer
Head Coach Paula Wilkins’ five-year agreement was just extended, and for good reason. This is her 18th season as a Badger and she is the winningest coach in Wisconsin program history. Wilkins ranks third in the Big Ten for career wins with 312.
This season with Wilkins, the Badgers managed to advance all the way to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in program history.
Wisconsin finished in the middle of Big Ten play after the 2024 season. But, with 18 teams, the Big Ten is competitive and recorded its highest number of schools selected for the NCAA tournament last year with 10.
In conference play, Wisconsin’s record is 5-3-3. While this doesn’t necessarily stand out, the Badgers have a remarkable at-home winning ability. At the McClimon Track/Soccer Complex, Wisconsin’s record is 5-1-3.
Defense played a large part of Wisconsin’s game last season. While the Badgers recorded an average of 1.33 goals per game, their opponents were held at 0.95. Defender Hailey Baumann had an impressive sophomore season that earned her a call up to the U19 Youth National Team Training Camp and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.
Baumann played in 22 games that season and started in all of them, recording a total of 1,959 minutes, the fourth highest on the team. With Baumann playing defense, the Badgers kept opponents to 0.65 goals per game.
Junior goalkeeper Drew Stover is another incredible part of the women’s soccer team. With two seasons in which she got playing time, Stover has a goals against average of 0.90 and a save percentage of 0.767.
Volleyball
The Wisconsin volleyball program won their first national championship in 2021, and the momentum from that win hasn’t slowed.
The Badgers advanced to the Elite Eight in 2022 and the Final Four in 2023. The 2024 season marked the 11th straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen or better tournament finish for Wisconsin.
This past season, Wisconsin ultimately fell to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a hard fought three-set match in the Elite Eight. While the Badgers didn’t win a single set, they stayed close to the Cornhuskers and two sets were within four points. They finished the season with a record of 26-7.
Freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer praised the seniors on the team following their loss.
“They’re so amazing and the worst part about losing today is not being able to play with them next year for sure,” Fuerbringer said.
The five seniors and fifth years include CC Crawford, Devyn Robinson, Sarah Franklin, Anna Smrek and outside Julia Orzol.
Part of the reason Wisconsin has been so successful is because they’ve been ranked high for tournament rounds, which allows the Badgers to start at home. The home crowd and support Wisconsin fans pack into the Field House.
After winning the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Franklin said, “I just love Badger volleyball. Every time we get to step in the Field House we know how much love the fans have for us. It just showed so much when we stood out there on the court together and I don’t think, like they said, we wanted to go out any other way.”
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield finished his 11th season coaching at Wisconsin with the conclusion of the 2024 season. He has an overall record of 292-61, or a 0.827 win percentage. Sheffield’s coaching contract was just extended through 2030, which gives the program a chance to continue building momentum throughout seasons without a major coaching change.
There will be five new faces on the court, freshman outside hitter Madison Quest and setter/right side hitter Addy Horner, who are looking to make their skill known during the upcoming spring season.
Three transfers will join the team this spring as well. Senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer, sophomore right side Grace Lopez and redshirt-freshman outside hitter Grace Egan will all help the Badgers work toward the goal of advancing in the NCAA Tournament next season.
