<p>2024 has been a monumental year for women’s hockey. From the incredibly successful inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League to an exciting IIHF women’s World Championship, along with entertaining action during the Rivalry Series and college hockey season, there are many reasons for fans to look back at the year that was.</p>



<p>On the ice, players had a bigger spotlight on them than ever before. It led to veterans having great years, along with young faces making a name for themselves. </p>



<p>Here are my top 10 women’s hockey players for 2024.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. Natalie Spooner</strong></h2>



<p>No player found greater success in the PWHL’s first season than Natalie Spooner. In a league that saw plenty of tight defense, the longtime Canadian National Team star put the puck in the back of the net at a ferocious pace and ended up leading the league with 20 goals. No other player scored more than 11. The 32-year-old was the PWHL’s Top Goal Scorer and Points Leader and was named the first-ever recipient of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/spooner-ambrose-campbell-highlight-2024-pwhl-awards">Billie Jean King MVP Award</a>.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="175"></div>



<p>On top of that, Spooner notched four points for Canada at the women’s Worlds and was named the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/natalie-spooner-named-iihf-player-of-the-year">IIHF Female Player of the Year</a>, the second time the honor was handed out. She was also tied for most points in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, helping the Canadians rally from a 3-0 deficit for the second year in a row.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, her calendar year has been hindered after tearing her ACL during the PWHL Semifinals against Minnesota, which has led to her<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-sceptres-place-natalie-spooner-megan-carter-on-long-term-injured-reserve"> missing the start of the 2024-25 season</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. Alex Carpenter</strong></h2>



<p>Carpenter is one of the most decorated players in the modern era, but she might’ve just had one of the best years of her career.</p>



<p>The North Reading, Massachusetts native was one of the bright spots for what was a difficult inaugural season for New York’s PWHL franchise. She led the team in scoring, finishing tied for second in the league in points (23) and tied for most assists (15). Carpenter’s efforts led her to <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/spooner-poulin-carpenter-named-finalists-for-billie-jean-king-mvp-award">being a finalist for league MVP</a>.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="169"></div>



<p>She’s off to another great start in year two of the league. On a line with star rookie Sarah Fillier and fellow veteran Jesse Eldridge, the 30-year-old has registered six points in the first four games of the season.</p>



<p>Carpenter also had a great performance at the women’s Worlds. In helping the U.S. make it to the championship game, she was tied for the most goals (6) and points (10) in Utica and was named the tournament’s best forward. It was the most points she’s ever scored at a world championship.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. Marie-Philip Poulin</strong></h2>



<p>You knew she was going to make this list at some point.</p>



<p>Captain Clutch probably would’ve led the PWHL in scoring had she not hurt her knee in March, which led her to miss three games during the regular season. Yet, Poulin’s impact was felt around the league. She was part of a Montreal team that was a heavy favorite to win the Walter Cup. In 21 games, Poulin scored 10 goals and 13 assists, finishing tied for second in the league in scoring.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="175"></div>



<p>The 33-year-old’s injury hindered her early at the world championship, but Poulin stepped up when she needed to, scoring two goals in the gold medal game, helping Canada take down the U.S. to win the country’s third world championship in four years.</p>



<p>Her stats might not been as mind-blowing as some might expect from arguably the greatest female hockey player ever, but what Poulin has done for the women’s game, especially over the past year, has been substantial.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. Kirsten Simms</strong></h2>



<p>The youngest player on this list turned heads last season at the University of Wisconsin and is on her way to being a dominant force in the pro game. </p>



<p>The Plymouth, Michigan native led the NCAA in scoring last year as a sophomore, scoring a country-leading 33 goals and 75 points in 39 games. She was one of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/izzy-daniel-casey-obrien-and-kirsten-simms-named-top-three-finalists-for-patty-kazmaier-award">finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award</a> (and arguably should’ve won it), playing a key role in helping the Badgers make it back to the national championship game. Simms is off to a great start in her junior season, having scored 21 points through the first 20 games of the season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="188"></div>



<p>Simms made her first appearance with the senior national team during the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, scoring a goal in Game 3. She really shined in Utica, being a reliable secondary scorer for the U.S., notching two goals and two assists, including the overtime winner during the group stage against Canada.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. Laila Edwards</strong></h2>



<p>On a team with Kirsten Simms, Casey O’Brien and Britta Curl, Edwards was viewed as a secondary scorer on Wisconsin’s team last season. However, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio native really made a name for herself at the world championship. </p>



<p>Edwards used her ability as a power forward and made her presence known by scoring twice in the Americans’ group-stage win over Finland. Then, in the semifinals against Suomi, she potted a hat trick, almost single-handedly sending the U.S. to the gold medal game.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="134"></div>



<p>Edwards ended up finishing tied for first in goals with teammate Alex Carpenter and was named tournament MVP.</p>



<p>The success she had has carried into her junior campaign with the Badgers, currently sitting second in the NCAA in goals (18) and points (39). Edwards has also scored three points in the first three games of this year’s Rivalry Series.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. Caroline Harvey</strong></h2>



<p>Another member in the talented Class of 2026 at Wisconsin, Harvey has been one of the most efficient two-way defenders in hockey over the past year.</p>



<p>In 2023-24, the Salem, New Hampshire native led all NCAA blueliners with 30 assists but really showed her ability in Utica, bolstering her status as an international star. With 10 points, Harvey finished tied for the lead in tournament scoring, leading all skaters with eight assists.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="131"></div>



<p>One year removed from being the tournament’s best defender, Harvey led all blueliners offensively and was named to the Media All-Star Team. </p>



<p>After helping the Badgers make it to another national championship game, Harvey has gotten off to an extremely hot start this season. Not only is she leading all defenders in scoring, with 37 points in 20 games, the junior defender is also third in the nation in scoring.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7. Noora Tulus</strong></h2>



<p>While the majority of fans in North America are just starting to learn her name, Noora Tulus has been one of the best European players for the past few years. She spent the previous few years with a dominant Luleå HF team that won six consecutive SDHL championships. Last season, she led the league in scoring, posting an incredible 61 points in 36 games, including another 12 in the playoffs.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



<p>Internationally, she was one of the best players for Finland during the EuroHockey Tour, finishing second on her team in scoring with 14 points. Tulus was also part of the Finnish roster that won its first bronze medal at the world championship in three years. </p>



<p>The 29-year-old was part of the large wave of European players who made the jump to the PWHL. Tulus was taken by the New York Sirens in the third round and is expected to be a key part of the team’s success this season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8. Ann-Renée&nbsp;Desbiens</strong></h2>



<p>Arguably, the best goaltender in the world came up clutch in multiple situations over the last calendar year. Outside of a shaky performance in the gold medal game in Utica, Desbiens was one of the most consistent forces for Canada at the World Championship and Rivalry Series.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



<p>While Team Canada struggled to find convincing offense in Utica, Desbiens made the key saves when she needed to. The Montreal Victoire backstop ended up with the second-best goals-against average in the tournament (1.36), a .936 save percentage with two shutouts, winning her third Women’s Worlds gold medal.</p>



<p>In the Rivalry Series and PWHL, she might not have had to be the star of the show but she was a big part of Canada and Montreal’s success.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9. Taylor Heise</strong></h2>



<p>Heise had a tough start to the calendar year, especially as she suffered an injury in Game 7 of the Rivalry Series, which led to her missing a few weeks. However, she returned in time for the women’s Worlds and to help Minnesota narrowly squeak into the PWHL Playoffs.</p>



<p>In Utica, Heise looked comfortable for the first time in a couple of months, ending up seventh on the team in scoring by averaging a point per game.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="8" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="154"></div>



<p>Back in the PWHL, the first-ever No. 1 pick turned her game up in the postseason. Her two goals in the decisive Game 5 of the semifinals helped eliminate top-seeded Toronto. Then, in the Final against Boston, the former Golden Gopher scored six points, including three points in the series opener, helping Minnesota win the first-ever Walter Cup.</p>



<p>Heise’s postseason performance, in which she scored five goals and eight points, led to her being honored with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/pwhl-minnesotas-taylor-heise-wins-first-ilana-kloss-playoff-mvp-award">Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10. Renata Fast</strong></h2>



<p>While everyone was focused on the exceptional play of Spooner, Sarah Nurse and Kristen Campbell in Toronto, Renata Fast was slightly overlooked despite being one of the top blueliners in the PWHL’s inaugural campaign.</p>



<p>With such a strong scoring core in the Six, Fast was looked upon to be more of a defensive stalwart alongside her longtime d-partner Jocelyne Larocque. Fast was still able to score 13 points, finishing tied for fourth in scoring among defenders.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="9" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="158"></div>



<p>Though the Sceptres have had a bumpy start to 2024-25, Fast is off to a good start offensively, registering three assists in the first three games.</p>



<p>In Utica, Fast was surprisingly one of Canada’s biggest scoring threats. The former Clarkson star led the team with three goals and six points, and was the women’s World’s best defender for the first time in her career.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Sarah Nurse</strong> (Toronto Sceptres) – Nurse was a huge part of Spooner and Toronto’s success in the first PWHL season. She finished tied for second in the league in goals (11) and points (23), along with winning gold with Team Canada in Utica last spring.</p>



<p><strong>Aerin Frankel</strong> (Boston Fleet) – The American veteran was a big part in helping her team get back to another gold medal game at the women’s Worlds, along with playing at an MVP level in getting Boston to the PWHL Final.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="10" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="150"></div>



<p><strong>Izzy Daniel</strong> (Toronto Sceptres/Cornell Big Red) – Daniel won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best player in women’s college hockey and was <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/a-full-list-of-every-pick-from-the-2024-pwhl-draft">taken by the Sceptres</a> in the third of the PWHL Draft.</p>



<p><strong>Natalie Mlynkova</strong> (Vermont/Minnesota) – Mylnkova was a key player in helping Czechia come within a goal of another bronze medal, being named to the Media All-Star Team at women’s Worlds. After a couple of fruitful years at Vermont, she transferred to a national title contender at Minnesota.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/categories/pwhl">Read more women’s hockey stories at DFO</a></em></p>
