Lacey Eden just wrapped up one of the greatest collegiate careers in NCAA history.
The Annapolis, Maryland, native became the first player in NCAA women’s hockey history to win four national championships after co-captaining the Wisconsin Badgers with defenseman Caroline Harvey to another title in 2026 — the university’s ninth in its history since 2006.
The second-seeded Badgers won this year’s single-elimination tournament after taking down the third-seeded Penn State 4-3 in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Fifty seconds into overtime, Kirsten Simms scored the OTGWG on a power play after Team USA Olympians Harvey and Laila Edwards provided the assists. Meanwhile, Eden recorded an assist on Adéla Šapovalivová’s second-period goal that put Wisconsin up 3-2.
In the title game, Wisconsin matched up with first-seeded Ohio State and upset them 3-2.
Senior forward Claire Enright scored the championship-winning goal with 6:18 remaining in regulation.
Eden again registered an assist on a Kelly Gorbatenko goal 1:18 into the game to put Wisconsin up 1-0.
Days later, Eden celebrated by roller-blading down a pier and jumping into a lake.
The 5-foot-8 forward played in all situations for the Badgers and led the NCAA in scoring during her fifth and final season, posting 77 points in 41 games. Eden led the nation with 48 assists and had the third-most goals, 29, while only registering four penalty minutes. Her sensational output made her a top-10 finalist for the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Award at year’s end, which was won by her teammate Harvey.
Eden also etched her name into the history books by becoming the fourth Badger ever to reach the 100-goal plateau (108 career NCAA goals), joining Hilary Knight (143), Brianna Decker (115), and Meghan Duggan (108).
Eden previously helped Wisconsin to national championships in 2021, 2023, and 2025.
Lacey Eden’s accomplishments
2025–26 (Graduate Student): Led the nation in scoring with 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 44 games. (4th national championship)
2024–25 (Senior): Recorded 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 41 games, serving as an alternate captain. (3rd national championship)
2023–24 (Junior): Posted 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists) in 41 games.
2022–23 (Sophomore): Recorded 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 40 games. (2nd national championship)
2020–21 (Freshman): Tallied 15 points in 15 games, earning USCHO All-Rookie Team honors. (1st national championship)
Eden has also represented Team USA on a national stage at the senior level five times, winning gold at the 2023 and 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championships. She was left off the United States’ 2026 Olympic team that won gold, despite four of her teammates getting nods to the Milan Cortina Games. It was during that time that Eden was promoted to captain in February and stepped up for Wisconsin, posting 19 points (8g, 11a) in eight games. The team went 6-2 during that timeframe.
“Words can’t really describe how heartbreaking that was for me,” Eden said per representation. “My teammates don’t know how much their support meant to me during that time that was so difficult. I wanted to give my everything and be able to support them in the ways that I could, which were on the ice and in the locker room. I obviously had a really good month, but it was playing for my teammates that made me really step up into that position. It was about them.”
Before her rise at the national level, Eden, a huge Washington Capitals fan, played two seasons for the Washington Little Caps from 2016 through 2018 while also suiting up for Navy Youth Hockey and Team Maryland. For her final two seasons in high school, she transferred to Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep in Minnesota, where she posted 111 points (48g, 63a) in 50 games.
Eden is one of the greatest hockey players to ever come from the state of Maryland, joining a growing list of legends that includes Sam Anas (2023 Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears and the co-record holder for the KHL’s single-season points title), Jeff Halpern (373 points in 976 NHL games), and Haley Skarupa (2018 Olympic gold medalist with Team USA).
Eden heads into the 2026 PWHL Draft as one of the top prospects. The Athletic ranks her as the sixth-best player available. Eden leaves Wisconsin ranked third all-time in points (248).
