Release from 06.11.2026

Historic World Championship debut: Sabres goaltender Selma Luggin shines against Czechia

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Austria's women's national team has arrived at its first-ever top-division World Championship. In the opening game of the IIHF Women's World Championship in Esbjerg, Denmark, Alexander Bröms's squad lost 1:4 to favorites Czechia on Friday but kept pace for a long time. Austria's best player was Selma Luggin of the Sabres St. Pölten, who made 42 saves. Eleven players on the World Championship roster come from the win2day Austrian Women's Hockey League.

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Austria got off to a strong start: Anna Meixner opened the scoring in the 8th minute, set up by Theresa Schafzahl. Czechia tied it shortly before the first intermission and took the lead in the second period. In the third, Kateřina Mrázová scored twice, the second into an empty net, to make it 4:1. Czechia outshot Austria 46 to 12.
 
"I think it was a great game to get started," said Selma Luggin. "I'd play the first period like that every day. We showed that we belong at this level and can compete." Defender Annika Fazokas added: "I think we can be very proud of how we battled and played physical against them today."
 
Eleven players from the league
The Sabres St. Pölten make up the largest group on the roster with seven players: Selma Luggin, Antonia Matzka, Emma Mörtl, Artemis Tekin, Charlotte Wittich, Hanna Obermayr and Amelie Suppan. The KSV Highlanders are represented by Anja Adamitsch, Lisa Schröfl and Lena Dauböck, the Graz99ers Huskies by Tamara Grascher.
 
Next opponent: Germany
Austria earned promotion to the top division for the first time by winning Division IA in Shenzhen in April 2025. In Group A, the team faces Germany on Saturday, followed by the USA and Switzerland. The top four teams in the five-team group advance to the quarterfinals, while the last-placed team plays for survival in Herning on November 13.
 
IIHF Women's World Championship 2026, Group A (Esbjerg):
Fri, 06.11.: Austria – Czechia 1:4 (1:1, 0:1, 0:2)
Sat, 07.11., 19:00: Germany – Austria
Mon, 09.11., 19:00: Austria – USA
Tue, 10.11., 19:00: Switzerland – Austria