Following a nail-biting winner-take-all relegation game, it was the Austrian squad that emerged victorious to keep their spot in the Top Division, eliminating Japan from the Top Division and sending them to Division IA for the first time in a decade in the opening day of elimination round competition at the 2026 Women’s World Championships in Herning, Denmark.

After each team went 0-4 in the preliminary round, both teams came out desperate to buck the trend and stay in the Top Division in 2027, with Japan’s speed matching up against Austria’s physicality. The Lady Eagles struck first early in the second period, with an Anna Meixner power play one-timer beating Kawaguchi Riko just 36 seconds into the frame to take the lead, despite being outshot 9-5 in the first period. But with Smile Japan outshooting Austria throughout, Selma Luggin could not hold on to her shutout, and Shiga Akane evened things up midway through the third to send the game to overtime, outshooting Austria 31-17. However, an early tripping penalty to Shiga just 13 seconds into overtime gave Meixner the opportunity to put away Japan for good, and following a coach’s challenge that was confirmed, Austria ran away with the 2-1 victory to stay on top.

Japan, relegated back to Division IA for the first time since 2017. will be replaced by France, who conquered the Division IA tournament in Budapest back in April, edging out the hosts to clinch their spot back in the Top Division. Japan will compete in the 2027 Division IA tournament in Milan against hosts Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands, promoted from Division IB, to see who will head to the 2027 Women’s Worlds, joining Austria among others, to be hosted in Québec, Canada.

Photo Credit: 2026 Women’s World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC