DURHAM, N.H. — Here we go again.
For the second year in a row, two of college hockey's powerhouse schools will square off for the marbles on Sunday, as the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes square off in the NCAA Women's Hockey Championship Game.
The two rivals in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association met in Duluth this time last year, when Wisconsin defeated back-to-back national championship favorite Ohio State. The Badgers won him 1-0, marking his seventh win, a program record.
Sunday will mark the third time in NCAA women's hockey history that the same championship game matchup will take place in consecutive seasons. Wisconsin split with Minnesota vs. Duluth in 2007 and 2008, but Minnesota topped Harvard in the championship games in 2004 and 2005.
This will be the sixth time this season the Buckeyes and Badgers will face off. Ohio State won three of four games during the regular season, but Wisconsin prevailed in the finale in Madison last month. The Badgers also had the last laugh during the WCHA tournament, defeating the Buckeyes in the conference championship game and winning the 10th WCHA title in program history.
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This year's Badgers team is even better than last year. Led by Patty Kazmaier winner Kirsten Sims and fellow top-three prospect Casey O'Brien, Wisconsin showed they are a force to be reckoned with. Needing to defeat ECAC foes St. Lawrence and Colgate to advance to their 11th championship game, the Badgers had to hold off a late surge by the Raiders in Friday's semifinals.
Ohio State also had an uncomfortably close game at the kickoff of the Frozen Four two days ago, entering the third period tied with Clarkson. Still, timely scores from Makenna Webster and NCAA Rookie of the Year Joy Dunn helped the Buckeyes earn a ticket to their third national championship in program history.
Only 10 players remain from the team that narrowly lost last season, but the Buckeyes have been playing like they have something to prove. Teaming with talented transfers like former Boston College star Hannah Birka and Kayla Barnes, Ohio State has put together a lineup capable of winning its second national championship in three years.
The Badgers have an overall record of 79 wins, 24 losses, and 10 losses against the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State is 9-6-0 against Wisconsin since the start of the 2021-22 season.
Of the 23 championship games in NCAA history, this will be the eighth time the finals will be played exclusively by WCHA programs. The Buckeyes beat Duluth two years ago, and Wisconsin is 4-2 in all WCHA championship games.
NCAA Women's Hockey Championship
#2 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #1 Ohio State Buckeyes
when: Sunday. March 24th
time: 4pm ET
where: Whitmore Center Arena (Durham, North Carolina)
channel: ESPNU
stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), ESPN+, Sling, DirecTV Stream
