The 2025–26 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season represented the University of Minnesota during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season.
Offseason
Departing players
Players who left the Gophers after last season Player Position Class Destination Emma Connor Forward Graduate Boston College Peyton Hemp Forward Graduated Ottawa Charge Ella Huber Forward Graduated Boston Fleet Olivia King Goaltender Graduated Elly Klepinger Defender Junior Bemidji State Kate Kosobud Defender Sophomore Minnesota Duluth Natálie Mlýnková Forward Graduated Montreal Victoire Maggie Nicholson Defender Graduated Lauren O'Hara Forward Sophomore Vermont Krista Parkkonen Defender Senior Minnesota Duluth Ayla Puppe Forward Sophomore Minnesota State Audrey Wethington Forward Graduated Skylar Vetter Goaltender Graduated
Players drafted
Professional Women's Hockey League Round Player Position Team 2 Ella Huber F Boston Fleet 2 Natálie Mlýnková F Montreal Victoire 4 Peyton Hemp F Ottawa Charge
Recruiting
Players who joined the Gophers since last season Player Position Nationality Notes Sydney Bailey Defender Rogers High School Sienna D'Alessandro Forward John Abbott CollegeCanada U-18 Women's National Team Bella Fanale Forward Bishop Kearney High SchoolUSA U-18 Women's National Team Layla Hemp Goaltender Minnetonka High SchoolUSA U-18 Women's National Team Avery Hovland Forward North American Hockey Academy Molly Jordan Defender Transfer from Boston College Jamie Nelson Forward Transfer from Minnesota State Sarah Paul Forward Transfer from Princeton Tereza Plosová Forward Djurgårdens IFCzech Republic National Team
Roster
Standings
Regular season Schedule
Source
WCHA tournament
The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team earned the third seed in the 2026 WCHA tournament based on their 18–9–1 conference record, This seed earned them the right to play the sixth-seeded St. Cloud State team at home in Ridder Arena in a best-of-three series to open the WCHA tournament.
NCAA tournament
The Minnesota Golden Gophers had a 26–11–1 overall record through the regular season and WCHA tournament, and earned the fourth overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament. By virtue of holding the fourth seed, the Gophers did not need to play in the first round of the tournament; instead they advanced straight to the quarterfinals of the 11-team single-elimination tournament, hosting fifth-seeded Northeastern at Ridder Arena on March 14, 2026. Minnesota fell behind Northeastern 3–0 in the first period. After the third Huskies goal, starting goaltender Hannah Clark was pulled in favor of Layla Hemp. The Huskies added another in the second period, leading 4–0 after the second period. Abbey Murphy netted a pair of goals for the Gophers in the third, but it wasn't enough, as the Huskies prevailed, 4–2.
Scoring statistics
Regular season Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM F 18 20 14 3445 F18 10 14 248 F17 5 8 234 D18 6 12 1812 F18 5 12 172 D18 5 11 162 F18 7 8 159 F18 4 11 1516 F 18 4 8 1210 F18 5 4 94 D13 3 6 918 F8 3 5 82 D18 2 5 74 F18 1 6 72 D17 0 7 722 F 18 2 1 30 D 9 1 0 10 F18 1 0 16 F14 0 1 10 D18 0 1 12F60000 Total 18 84 144 228 172
Goaltending statistics
Regular season Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals against Saves Shut outs SV % GAA 13 724:47 10 3 0 24 315 2 .929 1.99 7 348:16 4 1 0 12 116 1 .906 2.0712:53000000.000.00 Total 21 1080:00 14 4 0 39 431 3 .911 2.17
Awards and honors
Abbey Murphy was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week of September 29, 2025. Sydney Morrow was named WCHA Defender of the Week for the week of September 29, 2025. Bella Fanale was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for the week of September 29, 2025. Murphy was named WCHA Forward of the Month for the month of September. Morrow was named WCHA Defender of the Month for the month of September. Fanale was named WCHA Rookie of the Month for the month of September. Murphy was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week of October 6, 2025. Hannah Clark was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for the week of October 13, 2025. Hannah Clark was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for the week of October 27, 2025. Jamie Nelson was named WCHA Forward of the week for the week of December 8, 2025. Jamie Nelson was named WCHA Forward of the Month for December 2025.
Rankings
PollWeekPre123456789101112131415161718192021222324Final USCHO 3 – 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 – USA Hockey 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
Notes
1.USCHO publishes Preseason, 21 weeks of in-season rankings, and a Final ranking. 2.USA Hockey publishes Preseason, 24 weeks of in-season rankings, and a Final ranking.
Milestones
Regular season September 25, 2025 Bella Fanale First collegiate goal Kendra Distad First collegiate goal Molly Jordan First goal with Minnesota September 26, 2025 Abbey Murphy 200th career point Josefin Bouveng 100th career point Tereza Plosová First collegiate goal Layla Hemp First collegiate start First collegiate shutout October 19, 2025 Jamie Nelson First goal with Minnesota October 31, 2025 Abbey Murphy 100th career assist Sienna D'Alessandro First collegiate goal November 15, 2025 Sydney Bailey First collegiate goal Avery Hovland First collegiate point December 5, 2025 Josefin Bouveng 50th career point December 6, 2025 Abbey Murphy 26th career game-winning goal (program record) January 3, 2026 Abbey Murphy Career-high 7 points, tying program record Nelli Laitinen 1st career hat trick January 9, 2026 Avery Hovland 1st career goal January 10, 2026 Abbey Murphy 50th point of the season January 17, 2026 Abbey Murphy 5th hat trick of the season 30th goal of the season Ava Lindsay 1st hat trick of career January 23, 2026 Jamie Nelson 1st career hat trick 50th career goal Sydney Morrow 100th career point January 24, 2026 Abbey Murphy T-1st place all-time Gopher goals record (139) Brad Frost 550th career win February 28, 2026 Abbey Murphy 1st place all-time Gopher goals record (141) Chloe Primerano 10th goal of the season March 1, 2026 Gracie Graham 1st goal of the season
References
Recaps