The Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association has announced Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton has been selected as this year's recipient of the Women’s College Hockey Goalie of the Year Award. McNaughton becomes the first Western Collegiate Hockey Association goaltender to earn the honor since the award was established in 2021. Voting was carried out by a panel of coaches, administrators, and members of the media from across the country. McNaughton was one of three finalists up for the Goalie of the Year Award along with Minnesota Duluth's Ève Gascon and Cornell's Annelies Bergmann. 

A native of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, McNaughton has helped lead the top-ranked Wisconsin Badgers to their 16th NCAA Frozen Four appearance in program history The sophomore netminder leads the NCAA in goals against average (1.17), wins (34), and winning percentage (.946). Her save percentage of .947 is second in the NCAA, while she is tied for third with her eight shutouts.

McNaughton earned All-WCHA Second Team recognition this season and was this year's WCHA Goaltending Champion for her league-best 1.28 goals against average during conference competition. At the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff, McNaughton helped the Badgers to their 11th WCHA Final Faceoff title in program history and was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts. 

McNaughton and the top-seeded Badgers will face fourth-seeded Minnesota in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four this Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT inside Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. 

Recipients of the Women’s College Hockey Goalie of the Year Award
Year - Recipient, Institution 
2021 - Aerin Frankel, Northeastern
2022 - Aerin Frankel, Northeastern
2023 - Gwyneth Philips, Northeastern
2024 - Michelle Pasiechnyk, Clarkson
2025 - Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin 

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league at WCHA.com and on its social platforms:  X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.