University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Murphy Named WCHA Forward of the Year
3/4/2026 7:58:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Abbey Murphy has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Forward of the Year, the conference announced live at the WCHA Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 4.
Murphy, who was named a finalist Tuesday, earns the league's top forward honor after a historic senior campaign. A two-time captain and All-WCHA First Team selection, she has set a career high with 38 goals in just 29 games. She leads the nation in goals per game (1.31) and points per game (2.21), while ranking fifth in assists per game (0.90). She also paces the conference in power-play goals (7) and hat tricks (5).
During the opening round of the WCHA Playoffs, Murphy became the all-time leading goal scorer in program history for Minnesota women's hockey, recording the 140th and 141st goals of her career. She also reset the program record for career game-winning goals (26) and tied the single-game points record (7) earlier this season against the Sacred Heart Pioneers.
The Olympic gold medalist has been named WCHA Forward of the Week five times (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19) and WCHA Forward of the Month twice (September, January). She also earned Forward of the Month honors from the Hockey Commissioners Association in September/October and January.
Up next, Minnesota travels to St. Paul for the WCHA Final Faceoff, where they will face the second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in a single-elimination semifinal. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. The contest will stream on B1G+ and air live on FOX9+.