Wisconsin Women's Hockey Receives Commitment From Slovak Standout Nela Lopušanová

Wisconsin women's hockey is less than two months away from beginning its quest for an NCAA record eighth national championship. With much of the team's core intact from the run to the national title game, Badgers fans have much to be excited about in the present. Fans previously worried about what comes after that core graduates now have ample reason to be excited about the future.

Nela Lopušanová Commits to the Wisconsin Badgers

Nela Lopušanová committed to Wisconsin on Monday, according to her Instagram. "I am extremely proud and honored to announce my commitment to play Division 1 ice hockey at University of Wisconsin," she wrote ahead of her junior year of high school. "I want to thank my family, coaches, and friends for helping my dreams come true!"

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Lopušanová has had a transcendent two-year run. In her age 14 season, she recorded 40 points in six games in the Slovak women's Extraliga. Her 25 goals were second only to Alexandra Lidskaya, five years older than Lopušanová.

As impressive as she was in 2021-22, the following year is when the Zilina, Slovakia native really turned heads. She followed up her initial showing in the women's league with 28 goals and 49 points in eight games. The forward also played 19 games in the Slovak men's under-16 league - where she tallied 24 goals and 56 points.

If there is a seminal moment in Lopušanová's rise, it was the 2023 U18 Women's World Championship. The month before her 15th birthday, the lefty took home tournament MVP honors. Her 12 points in five games led all skaters.

Oh, and she scored the first "Michigan Goal" in the history of women's international play.

Newest Wisconsin Hockey Commit Already Has Badgers Ties

Lopušanová moved to the United States last year to play with the Bishop Kearney Selects. The prep school in upstate New York has become a hotbed for top women's collegiate hockey talent - including a crop of current Badgers.

Laila Edwards (who recorded 56 points as a sophomore winger), Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin women's hockey #1 defender), and starting goaltender Ava McNaughton all attended Bishop Kearney. Incoming first-year forward Finley McCarthy is another noted friend and teammate of Lopušanová's at BK.

The sharpshooting Slovak will almost certainly be relied upon to add a scoring punch immediately. She will arrive in Madison in the fall of 2026 as Edwards, Harvey, and reigning D1 scoring champ Kirsten Simms graduate.

New cities, leagues, challenges, heck, even new sports are nothing new to Lopušanová, though. During her first year in the US, she led Bishop Kearney to the inaugural New York State Division 2 Flag Football title. So, not only are the Badgers getting a star who once recorded 19 points in one game in the Slovakian women's hockey league, but they are also getting a bona fide athlete who hauled in five touchdowns in a state title game.

Related: Casey Rabach 'Fits so Well' as Wisconsin Football Assistant Coach

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