Wisconsin women's hockey lines up after taking down Colgate in the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game
Meg Kelly

Women's Hockey

Five Things to Know: No. 2 Badgers face No. 1 Buckeyes in NCAA Frozen Four final rematch

UW looks to earn eighth national championship title

MADISON, Wis. – For the 11th time in school history, the second-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team is heading to the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four final where they will face the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in a national championship rematch. Puck drop at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, New Hampshire, is set for 4 p.m. ET. 

Fans can watch the action on ESPNU or listen to the game in Madison on The Game 1070 AM. 

Tickets for the 2024 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four are still available and can be purchased here or in-person at the Whittemore Center Box Office.

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Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Wisconsin women's hockey celebrates a goal against Colgate on March 22, 2024

1. LAST TIME OUT

The Badgers earned a spot in the national championship game after dispatching Colgate, 3-1, in the semifinals at the 2024 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four on Friday night at the Whittemore Center Arena. 

The sophomores shined as Kirsten Simms, Vivian Jungels and Laila Edwards each found the back of the net. UW was unstoppable on the penalty kill, going five for five and not allowing a goal during two minutes of 5-on-3 play. 

Freshman Ava McNaughton shined in net, stopping 25 of the shots she faced for her 20th win of the season.

2. ACCOMPLISHED ALL-AMERICANS

Senior Casey O’Brien and sophomore Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms have been named first-team All-Americans after a stellar season. 

O’Brien and Simms each found spots on the 2023-24 CCM/AHCA Women’s Division I All-American First Team as forwards, while Harvey joined the two on the top team as a defender. UW ties with Clarkson for its three honorees, but Wisconsin is the only school to have three members on the top team. 

This marks just the second time in program history that three Badgers have earned first-team All-American honors in the same season, as Sara Bauer, Meaghan Mikkelson and Jessie Vetter did so in 2007.

Britta Curl places Wisconsin on the NCAA Frozen Four bracket

3. BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin is headed back to the national championship where they are set to face the same opponent, the No. 1 Buckeyes. 

This marks the 11th time in program history that the Badgers have made it to the title game. UW holds a 7-3 record at the NCAA Frozen Four final game and paces the country in NCAA titles with seven. 

The Badgers have earned a spot in the title game in three of the last four seasons, with victories coming in both 2021 and 2023.

Bucky and a fan at the 2024 Frozen Four fan event at Libby's

4. JOIN THE BADGERS IN DURHAM

The Badgers will be back at Libby’s Bar and Grill from 1-3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday for a pregame fan event, including free t-shirts and other swag. The UW Band and Bucky will be in attendance before heading to the Whittemore Center Arena for the 4 p.m. ET championship game.

In addition, fans are encouraged to join Bucky Badger and the UW Band at 1:50 p.m. ET to welcome the women's hockey team as they enter the Whittemore Center Arena for the NCAA "Red Carpet Arrival".

Laila Edwards battles an Ohio State player in the 2023 NCAA Championship game

5. AGAINST THE BUCKEYES

UW leads the all-time series against the Buckeyes, 79-24-10, and have won the last two matchups against the top-ranked team, including the WCHA Final Faceoff championship game. The Badgers took down the WCHA Regular Season Champion Buckeyes, 6-3, to earn their 10th tournament title. 

Wisconsin met with Ohio State in the 2023 NCAA National Championship game last March in Duluth, Minnesota. UW upset No. 1 OSU, 1-0, to earn their record-breaking seventh national championship title.