Founded in 1999, the WCHA has been at the forefront of growing and raising the profile of women's hockey nationwide as the league continues to churn out national champions, Patty Kazmaier winners, Olympians and professional players. The league consists of eight premier institutions that offer the best in both educational and athletic environments. No women's hockey conference can top the impressive list of national accomplishments of the WCHA. Since 1998, member teams have earned a record 19 NCAA and AWCHA national championships while finishing as the national runner-up eight times. Since the inception of the NCAA women's ice hockey championship in 2001, the WCHA has won 18 titles, landed at least one team in every Frozen Four and iced two or more teams in 16 Frozen Fours.