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Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wisconsin Women's Hockey: Casey O'Brien Wins National Player of the Year

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kedrick Stumbris | Last updated Mar 22, 2025 2:36 PM ET

Minneapolis, MN - In NCAA Division I women's ice hockey, it would be nearly impossible to have a better year than Wisconsin women's hockey forward Casey O'Brien is having.

When the top three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award were announced, one thing was clear: a Wisconsin Badger would win the award. The only thing we did not know was which one. One program was home to all three finalists for the first time since the Minnesota Golden Gophers did so in 2013.

Would it be Wisconsin forward Laila Edwards? The nation's leading goal-scorer with 34 has also tallied the second-most points of any skater in the country with 69.

Or how about Caroline Harvey? The Badgers defender is arguably the best blue-liner in the NCAA. By locking down opposing offenses and adding a scoring punch, landing her in the top five nationally with 62 points - 16 more than any other defender - the two-time WCHA Defender of the Year makes impact plays all over the ice.

Ultimately, it was O'Brien. The fifth-year senior was named the recipient of the award given to the top female college ice hockey player in the United States in a ceremony Saturday, on the off-day between the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal and national championship game.

The only way now to make O'Brien's year any more spectacular? Win a national title.

Casey O'Brien Looks to Cap Storybook Wisconsin Women's Hockey Season

Through 40 games, O'Brien leads the country with an astounding 88 points - 19 more than any other player. The Milton, Massachusetts native averages 2.2 points per game. No player has averaged over 2.0ppg since former Wisconsin forward Daryl Watts finished as a Top Three Patty Kaz finalist after posting 74 points in 36 games in the 2019-20 season.

O'Brien has re-written the Badgers record books in her final collegiate campaign. With 62 assists, the All-WCHA First Team honoree is the first player in program history to tally 60 helpers in one year. That mark beats the previous single-season best of 50, also set by O'Brien.

In November, the two-time Patty Kaz top-three finalist broke UW's career assists record, surpassing the first Badger to win the Patty Kazmier Award, Sara Bauer. O'Brien assisted twice in the Frozen Four semifinal to bring her career total to 175.

In a WCHA Playoff victory over Bemidji State, Wisconsin's co-captain became Wisconsin's leader in career points. The previous record was set by Hilary Knight with 262. Following the WCHA Final Faceoff and first two games of the NCAA Tournament, O'Brien is up to 276.

With a goal in the second period of the Frozen Four semifinal on Friday, the center broke yet another Wisconsin women's hockey scoring record. The first-team all-American broke Meghan Duggan's record for most points in a single season with a wrist shot that gave the Badgers a two-goal lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

After rewriting the record books, winning the WCHA Player of the Year award and the Patty Kazmaier Award, only one thing could make O'Brien's final collegiate season more memorable: winning the national championship game on Sunday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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