The University of Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team enters the 2026‑27 season with a 16‑player roster that blends veteran poise and promising youth. After capturing the 2026 national championship, the program is leveraging its recent success to maintain a high‑level competitive edge.
A Core That Remains Intact
Central to the Badgers' strategy is the core group that helped secure the title. The squad features sophomores Rhyah Stewart, Mackenzie Jones, Rachel Gorbatenko, Nicole Gorbatenko and Charlotte Pieckenhagen, alongside junior Maggie Scannell and senior Ava McNaughton. Their combined experience forms the backbone of a team that finished the previous season with a 35‑4‑2 record.
The Badgers' championship run culminated in a dramatic 3‑2 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, a game that highlighted the team's resilience and depth. That win not only delivered the program's latest title but also reinforced the belief that continuity can translate into sustained excellence.
Coaching staff and analysts alike point to the blend of skill, chemistry and experience as key drivers for the upcoming campaign. With the same group of players returning, expectations are high that the Badgers will once again contend for the top spot in collegiate women's hockey.