Minnesota's duo of Abbey Murphy and Bella Fanale, Ohio State's Joy Dunne, and Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton claimed the latest Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) weekly honors, presented by OS Hockey.
WCHA Forward of the Week
Abbey Murphy, Gr., Minnesota (Evergreen Park, Ill.)
After a seven-point series performance in Minnesota's sweep of then No. 12 Minnesota State, Abbey Murphy was tabbed the WCHA Forward of the Week, marking the second consecutive week she has earned the honor. The Gopher forward recorded her second-consecutive hat trick and added an assist in Minnesota's 11-3 series-opening win on Friday. Murphy then followed up with a goal and two assists in the Gophers' 4-3 victory in game two as she skated to a +3 rating on the weekend.
Other Nominees: Sloane Matthews, Ohio State; Chloe Boreen, St. Thomas.
WCHA Defender of the Week
Joy Dunne, Jr., Ohio State (O'Fallon, Mo.)
Ohio State's Joy Dunne was named the WCHA Defender of the Week for the first time this season. Typically a forward for the Buckeyes, Dunne played defense in the series and helped the Buckeyes hold the No. 15 St. Cloud State Huskies to just one goal on the weekend. The junior forward recorded a goal and an assist from the blue line in the Buckeyes' 5-1 victory in game two and tied for a team-high +4 on the series.
Other Nominee: Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota; Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Ava McNaughton, Jr., Wisconsin (Seven Fields, Pa.)
Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton earned the WCHA Goaltender of the Week honor for her performance in the Badgers' series against No. 8 Minnesota Duluth. McNaughton played every second in the series and held the eighth-ranked Bulldogs to one goal in each game of the series. The Badger netminder recorded 25-saves in game one to force a shootout, and earned 16 saves in the Badgers' 5-1 game two victory. McNaughton led all WCHA goaltenders who played in two games on the weekend with a 0.96 goals against average and a .953 save percentage.
Other Nominees: Layla Hemp, Minnesota; Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Hailey MacLeod, Ohio State; Dani Strom, St. Thomas.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Bella Fanale, F, Minnesota (Webster, N.Y.)
First-year Gopher Bella Fanale recorded five points in Minnesota's series sweep of then No. 12 Minnesota State en route to earning her second WCHA Rookie of the Week award. Fanale tallied a goal and two assists on Friday in Minnesota's 11-3 win against the Mavericks. In Saturday's 4-3 victory against Minnesota State, Fanale scored two goals, one of which was the game-winner. The rookie forward now has seven multi-point games on the season and four multi-goal games.
Other Nominees: Makayla Moran, Minnesota State; Maxine Cimoroni, Ohio State.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.
2025-26 WCHA Players of the Week
Jan. 12: Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Bella Fanale, Minnesota
Jan. 5: Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota; Goaltender: Hailey MacLeod, Ohio State; Rookie: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State
Dec. 8: Forward: Jamie Nelson, Minnesota; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Maria Mikaelyan, St. Cloud State
Dec. 1: Forward: Lacey Eden, Wisconsin; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Rookie: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State
Nov. 24: Forward: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Hailey Hansen, Minnesota State; Rookie: Mercury Bischoff, Minnesota State
Nov. 17: Forward: Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin; Defender: Sara Swiderski, Ohio State; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State
Nov. 10: Forward: Rylee Bartz, St. Thomas; Defender: Jenessa Gazdik, St. Thomas; Goaltender: Kaitlin Groess, Bemidji State
Nov. 3: Forward: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Taylor Kressin, Ohio State; Rookie: Sophia Villanueva, Minnesota Duluth
Oct. 27: Forward: Claire Enright, Wisconsin; Defender: Emma Peschel, Ohio State; Goaltender: Hannah Clark, Minnesota; Rookie: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State
Oct. 20: Forward: Alice Sauriol, St. Cloud State; Defender: Ellah Hause, St. Thomas; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Rae Mayer, Minnesota Duluth
Oct. 13: Forward: Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Hannah Clark, Minnesota; Rookie: Maria Mikaelyan, St. Cloud State
Oct. 6: Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Laila Edwards, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State
Sept. 29: Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Sydney Morrow, Minnesota; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Bella Fanale, Minnesota
Sept. 22: Forward: Rylee Bartz, St. Thomas; Defender: Siiri Yrjölä, St. Cloud State; Goaltender: Hailey Hansen, Minnesota State; Rookie: Zoe Lopez, Minnesota State