Wisconsin tops USCHO preseason poll, chasing three-peat

Wisconsin enters the 2026-27 season as the preseason No. 1 in the USCHO women's hockey poll. The defending national champions are trying to win three straight titles for the first time in program history. The Badgers lost five players to the PWHL draft but return goaltender Ava McNaughton.

This is the 13th consecutive preseason poll in which Wisconsin has ranked in the top three. The Badgers have opened at No. 1 eight times since USCHO began its preseason poll in 2010, and they won national championships in two of those seasons, 2021 and 2026.

Ohio State is No. 2 for the second straight year. The Buckeyes lost Emma Peschel, Sara Swiderski and Sloane Matthews to the PWHL but added St. Thomas transfers Rylee Bartz and Ella Hause. Senior co-captains Jocelyn Amos and Joy Dunne return for a final season together.

Minnesota, Penn State and Northeastern round out the top five. Penn State earned its highest preseason ranking at No. 4 after reaching its first Frozen Four last season, though the Nittany Lions lost seven players to the PWHL draft, including Olympian Tessa Janecke and goaltender Katie DeSa. Northeastern returns goaltender Lisa Jönsson after a 21-7-1 sophomore season.

UConn is No. 7, also the program's best preseason ranking. Minnesota State earned its first preseason ranking at No. 14 after a program-record 17-win season, while Mercyhurst is No. 15.

Since 2010, no team ranked outside the preseason top five has won the national championship. The season opens Friday.