At the conclusion of the Women’s World Championship Division IA tournament in Klagenfurt, Austria today, it was Norway and Hungary that finally scooped up the last promotion spots to the Top Division in 2025, to be hosted in České Budějovice, Czechia.

Entering the final day of competition with France sitting at ten points, Norway at nine and Hungary at eight, it seemed a clear path for the Isbjørnene (who owned unexpected tiebreakers over both France and Hungary) in the day’s first tilt, facing last-place and relegated Korea; an 8-0 thrashing punched, backed by a four-point game from Tea Løkke Nyberg and an Ena Nystrøm shutout, punched Norway’s ticket, marking their return to the Top Division for the first time since 1997.

The second spot came down to the tilt between France and Hungary, with the Magyars needing a regulation win to advance, while Les Bleus could clinch even with a tie game going past regulation time. France seemed in control for most of the first forty minutes, with a Lore Baudrit goal in the first minute, and solid play from Justine Crousy–Théode in net holding off Hungary. But it was a Kinga Jókai-Szilágyi goal with 56 seconds remaining in the second period, and an insurance marker from Míra Seregély early in the third, that would serve as the game winner for the Magyars, who turned around a victory, with keeper Anikó Németh standing tall in the third, despite a major penalty given up midway through the third, holding on for the 2-1 regulation victory and Top Division clincher.

Norway and Hungary will join Group B at next year’s Worlds in Czechia, playing alongside Sweden, Japan and Germany, with the Group’s top two teams advancing to the medal rounds. Norway and Hungary will replace China and Denmark, who were relegated at this spring’s tournament in Utica, New York, who will compete in Division IA next year against the Netherlands, Austria, France and recently promoted Slovakia.

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