US national team veteran Alex Carpenter came in second with 14.6% of the votes, followed by Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (11.5%) and Switzerland's Alina Muller (9.1%). In total, eleven players received at least one vote. Other nominees included Aija Balode (LAT), Kendall Coyne Schofield (USA), Taylor Heise (USA), Klara Peslarova (CZE), and Susanna Tapani (FIN).

The award, which debuted last year, was previously won by American Hilary Knight. This honour adds to Spooner's accolades, as she was also named MVP and top forward of the Professional Women's Hockey League's inaugural season. 

The PWHL Toronto forward led the league with 20 goals, including five game-winners, and 27 points in 24 games. Spooner's season was cut short by a knee injury that required surgery, sustained in Game 3 of Toronto's semifinal playoff series against eventual champion Minnesota.

She also contributed a goal and three assists in seven games for Canada's gold medal-winning team at the world championships in April. This marked her 10th world championship appearance, and her second consecutive after taking six months off to give birth to her first child, a son, in December 2022.

Czechia's captain Roman Cervenka was named Male Player of the Year after leading his team to gold at the World Hockey Championship. IIHF President Luc Tardif will present the Player of the Year trophies this summer, with the exact date still to be determined.