WIAC Announces 2027 Women's Hockey Preseason Predictions

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls enters the new season as the top-ranked conference and national program.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Hockey

WIAC Announces 2027 Women's Hockey Preseason Predictions

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The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has released its 2027 preseason predictions, naming the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as the favorite to claim the regular-season title. Coaches and sports information directors placed the Falcons at the top following their historic run of recent championship success.

Why it matters

As the three-time defending NCAA Division III champions, UW-River Falls remains the benchmark for competitive excellence within the conference. Their status as the preseason favorite reflects both their current No. 1 ranking in the USCHO.com poll and their dominance over the league's established tournament structure.

UW-River Falls enters the season having secured seven consecutive O'Brien Cup trophies and six straight regular-season championships. They currently hold the top spot in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll, significantly ahead of UW-Eau Claire, which is ranked 14th.

The players

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

This institution is a three-time defending NCAA Division III champion and the current No. 1 ranked team in the USCHO.com preseason poll.

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

This collegiate athletic conference oversees women's ice hockey competition across the state of Wisconsin.

UW-Eau Claire

This university's hockey program is ranked No. 14 in the USCHO.com poll and competes within the WIAC.

The details

The preseason rankings slot UW-Stevens Point in third place, followed by UW-Superior and Beloit College. The top four teams in the final conference standings will advance to the WIAC Tournament, where semifinal and championship games are hosted by the higher-seeded programs.

October 30, 2026: Non-conference schedules begin.
November 20, 2026: The conference schedule begins.
February 26-27, 2027: WIAC semifinal series take place.
March 6, 2027: The WIAC championship game occurs.

Season Trajectory

The preseason rankings establish a clear hierarchy that positions UW-River Falls as the team to beat for both conference and national honors. This trajectory reinforces their status as the dominant program while setting clear thresholds for UW-Eau Claire and other rivals aiming to secure a top-four playoff spot.

With only the top four teams in the conference standings qualifying for the postseason tournament, the margin for error for lower-ranked teams like UW-Superior and Beloit College is razor-thin. Securing home-ice advantage through a top seed is essential, as the WIAC Tournament mandates that games are hosted by the higher-seeded program.

The takeaway

Fans should monitor the early non-conference performance starting October 30 to see if challengers can close the gap on the top-ranked Falcons. Establishing a strong record early is critical for teams hoping to secure one of the four available spots in the conference tournament.