After clawing their way back to the Top Division in 2024, it was a sudden relegation back to Division IA for both Norway and Hungary, who were officially both relegated with one day left in competition in České Budějovice.

While these two nations were the likely teams to be relegated even before the tournament began, they surprisingly did not square off in the Group B final, but rather in each team’s respective third game, which Norway won 3-0 on 13 April, their first victory at the Women’s World Championship since 1992. Hungary would lose the following day to Germany, 4-1, and with Germany and Japan tied at six points apiece for second place in Group B, both the Magyars and Isbjørnene were locked in to the bottom two spots.

Their replacements will be confirmed by 19 April, when the Division IA tournament in Shenzhen, China concludes, with the top two in the Division being promoted to the Top Division. Hosts China, who were relegated alongside Denmark last year, will contend against Austria, France, Netherlands and Slovakia, promoted from Division IB, to see who will head to Canada for the 2026 Women’s Worlds.

Photo Credit: 2025 Women’s World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC