Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NCAA women’s hockey season

The GIST: NCAA women’s hockey’s new It Girl is No. 2 Minnesota freshman phenom Chloe Primerano. She’s bringing massive star power to the game, but Primerano isn’t the only one to watch as the skaters take the ice for the 2024–25 season.

• Not all teams start their seasons at the same time — some dropped the puck weeks ago. But the whole gang is back this weekend and, thanks to a PWHL–driven popularity boost, they’re better than ever.

The powerhouses: For the past six years, the natty has gone to either No. 1 Wisconsin or No. 4 Ohio State. In fact, the WCHC rivals duked it out last March, with Ohio State winning the ’ship 1–0. That said, the Buckeyes began their title defense with a pair of brutal losses two weeks ago, so the Badgers are officially the early-season team to beat.

• Also in the mix are two fellow WCHC titans: Primerano’s own Golden Gophers and the team who handed Ohio State their season-opening loss, No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth. They call it the State of Hockey for a reason.

The challengers: If anyone can challenge the WCHC, it’s ECAC squads No. 5 Clarkson and No. 7 Colgate. They joined Ohio State and Wisconsin in last season’s Frozen Four, but this season, they’re aiming to hoist hardware after the final buzzer.

• Fans will know if Colgate has what it takes right away: If they’re the real deal, they’ll shake off last Saturday’s surprising overtime loss to underdog Mercyhurst and challenge Minnesota-Duluth in this weekend’s series, starting tonight at 6 p.m. ET.

What to watch: Also at 6 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN+, Ohio State’s weekend series at No. 8 St. Lawrence is a big opportunity to regain their mojo. A few losses are to be expected in hockey’s long season, but another L this early (even against a fellow Top-10 team) could signal disaster for the Buckeyes. No pressure.

• Elsewhere, No. 12 Penn State has been trying to break into the sport’s upper echelon for years, and a weekend series against No. 9 UConn beginning at 3 p.m. ET today is the perfect place to start. Let’s do that hockey!