University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Land Four on 2025-26 All-WCHA Teams
2/26/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota women's hockey team placed four student-athletes on the 2025-26 All-WCHA teams, the conference announced Thursday. Graduate forward Abbey Murphy earned All-WCHA First Team honors, senior defenders Nelli Laitinen and Sydney Morrow were named to the Second Team, and freshman Bella Fanale secured a spot on the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
Abbey Murphy | All-WCHA First Team
Murphy collects the fifth All-WCHA honor of her career after earning Second Team recognition in each of the past two seasons, Third Team accolades the year prior, and All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native leads both the conference and the nation in goals per game (1.38) and points per game (2.35), while ranking seventh nationally in assists per game (0.96). Murphy has scored 36 goals, the most in the country, in just 26 games and totaled 61 points, ranking second nationally. The Olympic gold medalist has been named WCHA Forward of the Week five times this season (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19) and WCHA Forward of the Month twice (September and January). The captain also earned Forward of the Month honors from the Hockey Commissioners Association for September/October and January.
Nelli Laitinen | All-WCHA Second Team
Laitinen earns the second All-WCHA honor of her collegiate career after being named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team as a freshman. The senior captain ranks second among WCHA defenders in points (29) and goals (10), and fourth in assists (19), despite appearing in just 28 games due to Olympic competition. The Lohja, Finland, native represented Team Finland on the Olympic stage for the second time in her career this year after previously winning bronze in 2022. Laitinen was named WCHA Defender of the Week on Jan. 3 and has continued to elevate her game, posting a career high in points while nearly doubling her previous career best in goals (six) in 11 fewer games.
Sydney Morrow | All-WCHA Second Team
Morrow earns All-WCHA Second Team honors for the second consecutive season in her two years with the Gophers. She received the same recognition last year in her debut season in the Maroon and Gold and finished as a top-three finalist for WCHA Defender of the Year. Prior to joining the WCHA, Morrow garnered All-ECAC Second Team and All-USCHO Third Team honors. This season, the senior defender ranks second among WCHA blueliners with 31 points and 23 assists.
Bella Fanale | WCHA All-Rookie Team
Fanale claims her first All-WCHA honor following an outstanding freshman campaign centering Minnesota's top line. The Webster, N.Y., native ranks fourth nationally among freshmen and second in the WCHA with 18 goals, while her 34 points rank second among WCHA freshmen. She has recorded 390 faceoff wins, the most by any WCHA freshman, while averaging strong efficiency at the dot. Fanale posted a team third-best +33 rating and is tied for first among conference freshmen in shooting percentage (.225). The freshman standout also tallied two game-winning goals and ranks second on the team in both total goals and power-play goals.