The Boston College women’s ice hockey program, a consistent top-10 powerhouse from 2010 to 2019, has experienced a noticeable downturn in recent years, seeing them fall out of the national top rankings. This shift can be attributed to a confluence of factors, most notably a significant loss of top-tier talent through the NCAA transfer portal, coupled with the natural cycle of player graduation and the increasing parity in women’s college hockey.
The gap between the Eagles and the nation’s elite was starkly highlighted at the start of the 2025-26 season. In a two-game series on September 25th and 26th, 2025, Boston College was outscored by a combined 18-1 in back-to-back losses to the University of Minnesota, falling 7-1 and 11-0. These results provided a clear illustration of the team’s current challenges against top-tier programs.
While the program enjoyed a decade of dominance under head coach Katie Crowley, marked by numerous NCAA tournament appearances and Hockey East championships, the tide began to turn following the 2019-20 season. An examination of their season records reveals a stark contrast. After a strong 2018-19 season with a 26-12-1 record, and a respectable 17-16-3 showing in 2019-20, the team’s performance started to dip. The COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season saw a 14-6-0 record, but the subsequent seasons marked a significant decline with losing records of 19-15-1 in 2021-22, 11-20-3 in 2022-23, and 14-18-3 in 2023-24.
The most significant factor contributing to this decline has been the departure of several high-impact players. This exodus of talent has created significant gaps in their lineup and leadership. Key losses include:
- Daryl Watts: The 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award winner as the nation’s top female college ice hockey player transferred to Wisconsin after the 2018-19 season, a move that sent shockwaves through the college hockey world.
- Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka: Two of the team’s captains and key veteran leaders, defenseman Cayla Barnes and forward Hannah Bilka, departed for rival powerhouse Ohio State following the 2022-23 season. It is important to note that both players had graduated from Boston College and were using their fifth year of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to play for the Buckeyes. While they completed their academic and athletic careers at BC, their departure meant the Eagles lost two of their most experienced and productive players, leaving a significant void in on-ice production and veteran leadership for the following season.
- Julia Pellerin: The team’s leading goal-scorer in the 2023-24 season, Pellerin, transferred to conference rival UConn, further depleting the Eagles’ offensive firepower.
- Molly Jordan: Adding to the recent challenges, standout defender Molly Jordan transferred to Minnesota in the 2024 off-season, representing another significant departure from the team’s blue line.
Compounding the challenges of player turnover was a major change behind the bench. In April 2023, longtime Associate Head Coach Courtney Kennedy left the program after 16 seasons to become a skills coach in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) for the Boston Fleet and Head Coach of the 2026 USA Hockey U18 Women’s Team. Kennedy had been an integral part of the program’s success, working alongside Katie Crowley for their entire tenure. Her departure broke up one of the most stable and successful coaching partnerships in the country
These high-profile departures, coupled with the graduation of other key players, have made it challenging for Boston College to maintain its previous level of dominance.
While head coach Katie Crowley has remained a constant and respected figure behind the bench, the significant roster turnover has necessitated a period of rebuilding. The program continues to recruit talented players, but the immediate impact of losing established stars is difficult to overcome in the highly competitive landscape of NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. The rise of other programs and the increasing talent pool across the country mean that sustained dominance is more challenging than ever.
The Boston College women’s ice hockey program’s slide from the top 10 is not due to a single catastrophic event, but rather a combination of the growing influence of the transfer portal, the loss of veteran talent, and the ever-increasing competitiveness of the sport. The program is currently in a rebuilding phase, focused on developing its younger players and navigating the new era of player movement in college athletics.