Wisconsin Women's Hockey Heads to Frozen Four as Minnesota Fires Coach

Badgers remain No. 2 in polls, while rival Gophers make coaching change after missing Frozen Four

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:38am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team is headed to the Frozen Four for the fourth straight year, maintaining their No. 2 ranking in the polls. Meanwhile, their border rival Minnesota Golden Gophers have parted ways with head coach Brad Frost after the team failed to reach the Frozen Four, marking the second time in three seasons they've missed the event.

Why it matters

Wisconsin and Minnesota have one of the fiercest rivalries in women's college hockey, and the Gophers' coaching change signals a shift in the balance of power in the WCHA conference. The Badgers' continued dominance and Minnesota's struggles raise questions about the future direction of the Gophers program.

The details

Wisconsin is making its 17th Frozen Four appearance, the most of any team in the country. The Badgers will face off against the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions in the semifinals on March 20th. Meanwhile, Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle announced the firing of head coach Brad Frost, who had led the Gophers to four national titles during his tenure but had not reached the Frozen Four since 2019.

  • Wisconsin is making its fourth straight Frozen Four appearance.
  • The Badgers will face Penn State in the Frozen Four semifinals on March 20th.
  • Minnesota has missed the Frozen Four twice in the last three seasons.

The players

Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin women's hockey team, which is ranked No. 2 in the country and has the most Frozen Four appearances in NCAA history.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Wisconsin's border rival, which has fired head coach Brad Frost after failing to reach the Frozen Four for the second time in three seasons.

Brad Frost

The former head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's hockey team, who led the program to four national titles during his tenure.

Mark Coyle

The athletic director of the University of Minnesota, who announced the decision to part ways with Brad Frost as the Gophers' head coach.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The No. 3 ranked team in women's college hockey, who will face the Wisconsin Badgers in the Frozen Four semifinals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Brad is a great coach and an even better person, which is why today is extremely difficult. This decision was made after a review of the program on and off the ice. We expect to contend at the highest level in every aspect of women's college hockey, and right now we are not doing that.”

— Mark Coyle, Minnesota Athletic Director

What’s next

If Wisconsin defeats Penn State in the Frozen Four semifinals, they will advance to the national championship game on March 22nd to face the winner of Northeastern and Ohio State.

The takeaway

The coaching change at Minnesota signals a shift in the balance of power in women's college hockey, as Wisconsin continues to assert its dominance in the WCHA and the Frozen Four. This rivalry will be one to watch closely in the coming seasons as the Gophers look to rebuild under new leadership.