The NCAA season is underway, and here's an early look at some players who could hear their name called as finalists for the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award.

Recent Patty Kazmaier Award winners as the NCAA's top player include Taylor Heise, Sophie Jaques, Loren Gabel, Daryl Watts, Elizabeth Gigeure, and Jamie Lee Rattray, who were all recently selected in the inaugural PWHL Draft. The list also includes PWHL free agent signees Aerin Frankel, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Alex Carpenter, and Kendall Coyne Schofield.

It's a prestigious list that often spells professional and international success. Last year's winner, Sophie Jaques, was selected in the second round, 10th overall by Boston in the PWHL Draft after scoring 48 points in 41 games from the Ohio State blueline.

Most often over the past decade, the annual Patty Kazmaier winner has been a nominee in one or more previous seasons. Finalists from last year returning to the NCAA this season include Top Three finalist Danielle Serdachny of Colgate, along with Top 10 finalists Pia Dukaric, Jennifer Gardiner, Gwyneth Philips, and Kiara Zanon. Other former finalists still playing NCAA hockey include Sarah Fillier and Casey O'Brien.

From those players, and other top performers in the NCAA, here's an early look at five players who could win the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award.

Sarah Fillier, Princeton - Fillier could be a top line player in the PWHL right now, and she'll certainly look to make an impact in her final season at the NCAA level. If there's one thing that will hinder Fillier, it's that she's not surrounded by as strong of a supporting cast as others on this list. Still, she's the most complete forward in college hockey.

Danielle Serdachny, Colgate - If there's an early favorite for the award, t's Serdachny who was a final three candidate last season and led the NCAA in scoring with 71 points in 40 games. She cracked Team Canada last year, and will be a force again this season in the NCAA before turning pro.

Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin - Harvey was USA Hockey's player of the year and a nominee for the IIHF's player of the year. She is not only the best blueliner in NCAA hockey, but is also among the best in the world, a title she looked poised to claim for herself soon. With a powerhouse roster in front of her in Wisconsin, the sky is the limit for the smooth skating, puck moving blueliner.

Kiara Zanon, Ohio State - With two top 10 nods in Patty Kazmaier voting already on her resume, Zanon jumped from a strong Penn State roster to a stacked Ohio State lineup. She'll undoubtedly put up big points, but with the number of graduate and senior students on Ohio State's roster, it may be difficult to stand out to the level needed.

Elle Hartje, Yale - One of the best two-way players in the NCAA, Hartje has put up sizeable numbers for Yale, but plays a balanced game starting from the face-off dots out. Yale looks strong again this season, and Hartje will be counted upon to lead the program. There's more on the line for players this season as well as they'll be under the PWHL microscrope.

Julia Gosling, St. Lawrence - A big, powerful forward with a strong shot, Gosling is built to step into the pro game, and could be a candidate to crack Team Canada. Similar to Fillier, she lacks a supporting cast, so it could be a tall order to win this award, but if she can single handedly carry St. Lawrence to success, who knows.

Abbey Murphy, Minnesota - Fast, skilled, game breaking ability, and down right agitating. Those are the best descriptors of Abbey Murphy. Murphy will drive Minnesota's offense this year, but the way she impacts the game far extends beyond the scoresheet. In a way, she has characteristics of past Patty Kazmaier winner Jamie Lee Rattray, but with more scoring potential.

Watch List: Gwyneth Philips, Hannah Bilka, Haley Winn, Cayla Barnes, Casey O'Brien, Jennifer Gardiner, Anne Cherkowski, Tessa Janecke