Wisconsin is looking to go back-to-back in 2025, starting with a trip up north to Minnesota.
It feels like just yesterday we watched Kirsten Simms bury a penalty shot late in the third period to tie Ohio State in the NCAA Championship game, then walked it off to win the title in overtime. But this week, the 2024-25 national champs begin their title defense with a conference series at Bemidji State starting Friday.
Since we only have a little time left before turning the page to the 2025-26 season, it’s worth taking 12 minutes out of your day to relive the final moments of the 2024-25 championship:
Now that we’re onto this season, the Badgers will certainly miss last year’s Patty Kazmaier award winner, Casey O’Brien. But Wisconsin brings back enough firepower to be a unanimous number one in the USCHO’s preseason poll and the favorites to repeat as champs. Many key players even got some valuable international experience with Team USA in the offseason.
Wisconsin went 6-0 against Bemidji State last season, outscoring the Beavers 36-2, including an 11-goal shutout win in the WCHA first-round clincher. The opening series should be a nice tune-up for Wisconsin and a good opportunity to see the newcomers in their first game action.
The most anticipated debut is that of Czechian standout Adéla Šapovalivová. The WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year is as gifted as they come in terms of finding the back of the net and looks to be a big factor right out of the gate in her first season in Madison.
While Šapovalivová stands to be an immediate impact player, another player who could break onto the scene á la Maggie Scannell last year is Charlotte Pieckenhagen. She averaged over a point per game in her tenure with the OWHL’s Mississauga Hurricane U22 team while also getting some under-18 experience with Team Canada.
We’ll also likely see the newest pair of Gorbatenkos, Rachel (defensewoman) and Nicole (forward), joining their sister, Kelly, on the Wisconsin roster.
These are nice pieces to add to a Badger team that returns last year’s NCAA-leading goal scorer in senior Laila Edwards, as well as senior Kirsten Simms, looking for a third-straight 70+ point season. They also bring back junior Ava McNaughton, the NCAA’s 2025 Goaltender of the Year, paired with the nation’s best two-way defender in senior Caroline Harvey.
The Badgers won’t see their first-ranked opponent until October 10-11, when No. 6 Minnesota Duluth comes to town, then likely won’t see another ranked team until Minnesota visits Madison on Halloween weekend. There is a realistic chance Wisconsin could enter that series having not lost a game since November 16, 2024, and riding a 37-game unbeaten streak (the Badgers tied Ohio State and St. Cloud State in that span).
That road starts with taking care of business in Bemidji this weekend, which should give Badger fans something nice to cheer about during the Wisconsin football bye week and serve as a reminder that the best team on campus is back in action.
Game Info
Date: September 26-27
Time: Friday – 6:02 p.m. | Saturday – 3:02 p.m.
Place: Bemidji, MN | Sanford Center
TV: B1G+ | Radio: 1070 AM
Category: General Sports
