Despite its ecological significance, the Saprolegniales order (Oomycota) of freshwater microbes has received little attention from researchers, who have mostly focused on a few harmful taxa, such as Saprolegnia and Aphanomyces. Analyzing the present status of Saprolegniales taxonomy, diversity, ecological functions, and analytical techniques, this work synthesizes previous information by analyzing 2803 ITS sequences and 1073 publications. Species delimitation, genus-level resolution, and habitat-associated distributions are all severely lacking in our research, due to problems with classical taxonomy and the widespread use of genetic markers. Additionally, owing in part to the lack of multi-gene phylogenies and high-throughput sequencing methods, the ecological significance of Saprolegniales, including their contributions to decomposition, food-web interactions, and freshwater carbon cycling, remains poorly recognized. From a managerial and policy standpoint, ecosystem evaluations might be improved by encouraging the regular inclusion of Saprolegniales in freshwater biodiversity monitoring programs and bolstering integrative taxonomic frameworks. A stronger scientific foundation for the long-term conservation and management of freshwater resources might result from including these creatures in policies that address carbon dynamics in freshwater ecosystems and how they operate.