The Gophers are the top-rated team in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason women's hockey poll and in uscho.com's poll as well. Both were released Tuesday.
They received all 19 possible first-place votes in USA Today's poll and all 15 in uscho.com's poll after winning the NCAA title last season.
Three other WCHA teams are also in the top eight. Wisconsin is second and North Dakota fifth in both polls. Minnesota Duluth seventh in one, eighth in the other.
The Gophers were 34-5-2 last season, the Badgers 35-5-2.
