Defending NCAA National Runner-up Nazareth University and defending UCHC Champion Elmira College are represented in the 2026-27 Women's USCHO.com Preseason Division III national poll, released on Oct. 12, 2026. Nazareth is ranked third and Elmira is 13th in the national poll to begin the new season.

Nazareth was unbeaten in its first 26 games last season and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship game. The Golden Flyers finished 27-2-1 last season and won NCAA Tournament games against Wilkes University and No. 2 Norwich University to advance to the title game before falling to No. 1 Wisconsin-River Falls. Nazareth out-scored opponents, 129-41. This is the highest preseason ranking for Nazareth in program history.

Elmira won its fifth UCHC Women's Hockey Championship last season in five seasons as a member of the league in 2025-26. The Soaring Eagles finished 20-6-2 last season and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Elmira defeated Augusburg University in the NCAA Tournament last season before falling to Amherst College in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Soaring Eagles last advanced to the NCAA Championship game in 2023-24 and have won three NCAA Division III Championships (2001-02, 2002-03, 2012-13).

Regular season play for the 2026-27 season begins on Oct. 30. League play begins the weekend of Nov. 13-14. The 2027 NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Championship is set to take place March 26-28, hosted by SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, NY.