Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes Host Minnesota Golden Gophers in WCHA Tournament

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — A postseason chapter in one of women’s college hockey’s fiercest rivalries will be written Thursday when the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes face the fifth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2026 WCHA Tournament.

The semifinal matchup at Ridder Arena pits a dominant Ohio State squad (32-4-0) against a battle-tested Minnesota team (26-10-1) with recent history firmly on the Buckeyes’ side. Ohio State swept the regular-season series in Columbus on Feb. 13-14, winning 4-2 and 3-1.

The Buckeyes, boasting the nation’s best winning percentage, enter on a five-game win streak. Their offense is fueled by center Sanni Vanhanen, who posted two goals in Saturday’s 4-1 quarterfinal win over St. Thomas. She has four points in her last four games.

Minnesota advanced with a commanding 6-1 quarterfinal victory over St. Cloud State on Sunday, led by a dynamic performance from left wing Josefin Bouveng. The player to watch for the Gophers scored two goals, added an assist and fired nine shots on net in that win, showcasing the high-volume offense she brings.

The season series has been a split, however. While Ohio State won the most recent pair, Minnesota handed the Buckeyes one of their four losses this season, a 6-3 defeat in Minneapolis back on Oct. 19, 2025. The Gophers have shown they can crack the Buckeyes’ defense, but consistency has been an issue.

Ohio State’s path has been marked by sheer dominance, outscoring opponents 28-7 over their last five games. Minnesota’s form is more varied, with a shutout loss to St. Cloud State on Feb. 27 preceding their explosive offensive response in the rematch.

The stakes are monumental. With both teams likely to receive bids to the NCAA tournament, a WCHA tournament title and crucial pairwise ranking points are on the line. The game will hinge on whether Minnesota’s top scorers, led by Bouveng, can solve an Ohio State defense that has stifled them recently, or if the Buckeyes’ deep and relentless attack will continue its season-long roll.

Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. CDT Thursday at Ridder Arena. The winner will advance to the WCHA championship game on Saturday.