What would happen if women's sports became more than a trend?
More than a fad enjoyed during the Olympics. Or an emotional storyline in Superbowl ads.
Perhaps girls and women will feel more confident at the gym or on the playground. Athletes will see equal standards in their locker rooms. Communities will thrive. And everyone will benefit from a culture that puts women on the same playing field as men.
Madison hopes to embrace those possibilities and more as it becomes a destination for women's sports. Legacy programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, mixed with professional and semi-professional softball and volleyball teams are making women's sports a lasting cornerstone in Madison's sports culture.
The community's support for these programs is bigger than the love of the game. It's a testament to Madison's progressive culture and our welcoming nature. We're a city that's open to all and always moving forward. If you're looking to visit a city where you can find women's sporting events, Madison is the place to be.
Join the hype early by locking in as a super fan for one or all of Madison's women's teams:
UW Badgers Women's Sports
Women have been a part of Badger athletics since the 1970s when trailblazers, including Kit Saunders, Ruth Bleier and Muriel Sloan pushed UW leadership to create women's athletics programs following the enactment of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational-based activities that receive federal funding. UW women's rowing took home a national championship within the first year of UW offering women's sports. This would be the first of many successes from women athletes in the following 50 years.
Ice Hockey
The word "champion" has become synonymous with Badger Women's Ice Hockey. The program has taken home the most NCAA National Championship titles of any active UW Athletics program, claiming eight total titles, the most recent earned in 2025. The team is also the winningest school in the entire NCAA for women's hockey.
The team plays at LaBahn Arena with a regular season that runs from late September through February. Tickets are on sale online.
Volleyball
A couple decades ago, UW fans would be shocked to learn any athletic program could garner hype that would rival the school's storied football and basketball teams the way Badger Volleyball has in recent years. The program boasts nine BIG 10 championships and brought home its first NCAA Championship title in 2021. The team has also set multiple attendance records in a sport where the competition to get the most people in the stands is sometimes as fierce as the action on the court.
The team plays at the UW Field House with a regular season that runs from late August through November. Tickets are available online.
Madison Night Mares
In 2024, the Madison Night Mares became one of four inaugural teams to form the Northwoods League Softball collegiate league, allowing some of the brightest collegiate fast-pitch softball talent in the country to compete during the offseason. The team was a natural fit for Madison and joined the Madison Mallards at the Warner Park Duck Pond.
In its first season, the Night Mares developed a culture around their games, which are equal parts athletic and entertaining. Gameday at Warner Park includes theme days, children's activities, a live mascot pony named Midnight, bottom-of-the-inning games and more. In addition to being a new women's team, the team's management is historic with General Manager Samantha Rubin, the first woman to serve as general manager for the Mallards, at the helm.
The Night Mares' season runs from June through August. Tickets can be purchased online. Get hyped for your visit by checking out our Madison Night Mares gameday guide.
LOVB Volleyball
LOVB Madison is making history as one of the six founding teams of League One Volleyball’s trailblazing professional league. Built on a grassroots model that connects elite athletes with local youth volleyball programs, LOVB Madison brings top tier volleyball talent directly to the community.
Leading the team is Madison’s founding athlete, former Badger star and Olympic silver medalist Lauren Carlini. She’s joined by a dynamic roster of familiar and new faces, including Olympian Xiangyu Gong, Sun Prairie native Claire Chaussee, and former Badger Temi Thomas-Ailara—all committed to representing Madison this season.
LOVB Madison will compete all season at the Alliant Energy Center, giving fans a home to experience world-class volleyball.
The regular season runs from January through April, with tickets available online.
COMING SOON: Stay tuned for the 2027 season when LOVB Volleyball welcomes Minnesota and Los Angeles teams to the league.
Coming in May 2026: Rally Madison FB (USL W Soccer)
The organization that brought Forward Madison FC to the capital city announced in 2025 that the USL W pre-professional soccer league would make its Madison debut in Spring 2026. The team, officially named Rally Madison FC, will play its games at Breese Stevens Field.
With branding rooted in Wisconsin’s suffragist history, Rally Madison FC is dedicated to championing women athletes and inspiring future generations. It represents far more than a soccer team—it is a cultural and athletic landmark for Madison, highlighting our city’s enduring commitment to women’s sports, equity and community pride.
The 2026 schedule has yet to be released, but season tickets are on sale now for any women's soccer super fans who can't wait to be part of this historic addition to the Madison women's sports scene. Buy season tickets now.
