Women's Hockey National Championship preview: Ohio State vs Wisconsin
· Yahoo Sports
For the fourth consecutive year, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers will battle it out for the women's hockey national championship. Wisconsin won in 2023 and 2025, while the Buckeyes took the title in 2024.
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Last year, Wisconsin came into the game as a heavy favorite, one of the most dominant teams in history. The Buckeyes gave them all they could handle, carrying a one-goal lead into the final seconds. Wisconsin scored the equalizer on a controversial penalty shot, and then won it in overtime.
The Badgers carried that momentum into this season, with an absurdly talented roster that was dominating the sport. Wisconsin swept the Buckeyes in a two-game series (as almost all regular season college hockey series are) in Columbus back in December, including winning the second game 6-1. The Buckeyes did take one of the two from the return trip in Madison in February.
As the season progressed, though, Ohio State constantly improved. Other than the three losses to Wisconsin, the Buckeyes haven't lost a game since October. The final battle between the two teams in the WCHA final was the closest of the season, as both teams played incredible defense. Wisconsin got an early goal and carried the 1-0 lead late into the third period, but two Buckeye goals in the final six minutes gave Ohio State the win.
The Matchup
Wisconsin dominates its matchups by controlling the puck throughout the game. The Badgers are unmatched in offensive zone ice time. The lineup is so powerful and so talented that few teams have the ability to match them anywhere on the ice.
One team that can, though, is Ohio State. The Buckeyes thrive on constant forward pressure and a strong forecheck. Ohio State has versatile defensewomen that can push forward and create offensive pressure. Senior Emma Peschel is second on the team in assists and is a constant factor in the Ohio State offense.
The Buckeyes also, are the only team in the country with a collection of forwards who can really trouble the Wisconsin defense. Junior Joy Dunne is probably the best forward in the country, matching skilled stick-handling with impressive strength and touch in front of the net.
This game will probably be won in the transition zone, as both teams have an impressive collection of talent. The team that controls the puck more will have more opportunities, but both do have exceptional defense, backed by elite goaltenders. Wisconsin defensewoman Laila Edwards is probably the single best player on the ice, and the Badgers have more elite forwards than Ohio State does, even if none are quite as effective as Dunne.
Overall, Wisconsin probably has a bit more talent. However, the Buckeyes are peaking at the right time, playing their best hockey at this point of the year. The Badgers, meanwhile, showed some cracks in the defense in the WCHA tournament, and they needed a crazy overtime game to beat Penn State in the Frozen Four.
In the end, though, none of that might matter. These two teams are by far the best in the country. They know each other's games. Their coaches know each other well. They will both be well-prepared and ready to play high-level hockey. This should be a great showcase for the sport, and neither team should be favored at this point. Fans should be in for a great game.
The game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 4:00 PM Eastern on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Women's Hockey National Championship preview: Ohio State vs Wisconsin