# 2015–16 Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey season

The Wisconsin Badgers represented the University of Wisconsin in WCHA women's ice hockey during the 2015-16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The Badgers were unable to win the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in school history.

## Offseason
### Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Notes |
| Mikaela Gardner | Defense | United States | Hails from Illinois |
| Samantha Cogan | Forward | Canada | Competed with Canada at IIHF U18 Women’s Worlds |
| Sophia Shaver | Forward | United States | Played high school hockey in Minnesota |

## 2015-16 Schedule

| Date | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Record |
| Regular Season |||||||
| October 2 | vs. Providence* | #3 | Shark Ice • San Jose, CA | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–1 | 1–0–0 |
| October 3 | vs. Providence* | #3 | Shark Ice • San Jose, CA | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 8–1 | 2–0–0 |
| October 10 | Ohio State | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–0 | 3–0–0 (1–0–0) |
| October 11 | Ohio State | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 8–0 | 4–0–0 (2–0–0) |
| October 16 | at St. Cloud State | #2 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–0 | 5–0–0 (3–0–0) |
| October 17 | at St. Cloud State | #2 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Megan Miller | W 2–0 | 6–0–0 (4–0–0) |
| October 23 | #6 Bemidji State | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 7–0–0 (5–0–0) |
| October 24 | #6 Bemidji State | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–0 | 8–0–0 (6–0–0) |
| October 30 | at Minnesota State | #3 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 9–0–0 (7–0–0) |
| October 31 | at Minnesota State | #3 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–0 | 10–0–0 (8–0–0) |
| November 13 | at Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 11–0–0 (9–0–0) |
| November 14 | at Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–2 | 12–0–0 (10–0–0) |
| November 20 | Lindenwood* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–1 | 13–0–0 |
| November 22 | Lindenwood* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Megan Miller | W 4–0 | 14–0–0 |
| November 27 | Dartmouth* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–1 | 15–0–0 |
| November 28 | Dartmouth* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–0 | 16–0–0 |
| December 4 | #3 Minnesota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–2 | 17–0–0 (11–0–0) |
| December 5 | #3 Minnesota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–1 | 18–0–0 (12–0–0) |
| December 11 | at #8 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 0–3 | 18–1–0 (12–1–0) |
| December 12 | at #8 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND | Ann-Renée Desbiens | T 0–0 $^{OT}$ | 18–1–1 (12–1–1) |
| January 8, 2016 | Minnesota-Duluth | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–1 | 19–1–1 (13–1–1) |
| January 10 | Minnesota-Duluth | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | none | W 3–1 | 20–1–1 (14–1–1) |
| January 15 | at Bemidji State | #2 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 1–0 | 21–1–1 (15–1–1) |
| January 16 | at Bemidji State | #2 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–1 | 22–1–1 (16–1–1) |
| January 23 | #8 North Dakota | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 1–0 | 23–1–1 (17–1–1) |
| January 24 | #8 North Dakota | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–1 | 24–1–1 (18–1–1) |
| January 30 | St. Cloud State | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 25–1–1 (19–1–1) |
| January 31 | St. Cloud State | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 26–1–1 (20–1–1) |
| February 5 | at Ohio State | #2 | OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–1 | 27–1–1 (21–1–1) |
| February 6 | at Ohio State | #2 | OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–0 | 28–1–1 (22–1–1) |
| February 13 | Minnesota State | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–0 | 29–1–1 (23–1–1) |
| February 14 | Minnesota State | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 8–1 | 30–1–1 (24–1–1) |
| February 19 | at #3 Minnesota | #2 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 0–4 | 30–2–1 (24–2–1) |
| February 20 | at #3 Minnesota | #2 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 30–3–1 (24–3–1) |
| WCHA Tournament |||||||
| February 26 | Minnesota State* | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinals, Game 1) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–0 | 31–3–1 |
| February 27 | Minnesota State* | #3 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinals, Game 2) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 32–3–1 |
| March 5 | vs. Minnesota-Duluth* | #3 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Final Face-Off WCHA Semifinal Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–0 | 33–3–1 |
| March 6 | at Minnesota* | #3 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Final Face-Off WCHA Championship Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 1–0 | 34–3–1 |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||
| March 12 | Mercyhurst* | #2 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinal Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 35–3–1 |
| March 18 | vs. #3 Minnesota* | #2 | Whittemore Center • Durham, NH (Frozen Four Semifinal Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 35–4–1 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. |||||||

## Awards and honors

* Samantha Cogan, forward, 2015-16 WHCA All-Rookie Team, WHCA Rookie of the Month twice in 2015-16, and WHCA Rookie of the Week on three occasions in 2015-16.
* Ann-Renee Desbiens, WCHA Player of the Week (Recognized for games of November 4–6, 2016)
* Ann-Renee Desbiens, 2016 WCHA Player of the Year
* Ann-Renée Desbiens, Goaltender, Patty Kazmaier Top Three Finalist
* Annie Pankowski, Forward, Patty Kazmaier Top Ten Finalist
* Mark Johnson, WCHA Coach of the Year
* Courtney Burke, Defense, WCHA 1st Team All-Star
* Ann-Renée Desbiens, Goaltender, WCHA 1st Team All-Star
* Annie Pankowski, Forward, WCHA 1st Team All-Star
* Emily Clark, Forward, WCHA 2nd Team All-Star
* Jenny Ryan, Defense, WCHA 2nd Team All-Star
* Sarah Nurse, Forward, WCHA 3rd Team All-Star