The 70th edition of the Sports Personality of the Year award takes place in Salford with six nominees looking to inherit Beth Mead’s crown from last year.
- Mary Earps to win
- Stuart Broad without Mary Earps
- Alfie Hewett top-three finish
Earps Looks Rock Solid
There had not been a female winner of the Sports Personality of the Year award for 15 years when Emma Raducanu took the title in 2021 but Mary Earps is a short-priced favourite to make it three in a row in 2023.
The England goalkeeper rose to stardom after her side’s World Cup campaign, in which the 30-year-old kept three clean sheets as her side reached the final.
Earps then saved Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty in that game and despite the Lionesses’ losing 1-0, the keeper took home the tournament’s Golden Glove award.
The Manchester United stopper also saved a crucial spot kick in England’s shootout win over Brazil in the summer’s Finalissima.
For the Red Devils, Earps set a WSL record with 14 clean sheets and helped her side reach their first major trophy final as they finished runners-up in the FA Cup to Chelsea.
Earps was named England Women’s Footballer of the Year, Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year and BBC Women's Footballer of the Year and also finished fifth in the Ballon D’Or voting, the highest for a goalkeeper since the female award began in 2018.
The victory for Beth Mead last year showed how much women’s football has captured the public consciousness and a second Lioness winner in a row looks likely thanks to the impressive year that Earps has had.
Broad Can Take Second Spot
Stuart Broad called time on his impressive cricketing career this year, as he signed off in style in the Ashes.
The bowler was England's top wicket-taker in the series with 22, at an average of 28.40, and is now the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 604.
The 37-year-old managed to finish his career in typically dramatic fashion as he hit a six with his final delivery faced and took a wicket with his final ball bowled to secure a win for England in The Oval Test, and a 2-2 draw in the Ashes series.
A player leaving on their own terms at the top of their game is always respected and Broad looks a solid contender to finish second in this year’s award.
STUART BROAD WITHOUT MARY EARPS
Hewett May Spring Surprise
There are a few nominees ahead of Alfie Hewett in the betting for a top-three finish at this year’s Sports Personality of the Year but not many can match his achievements.
The wheelchair tennis star is currently number one in the world for both men’s singles and doubles and won five of the eight Grand Slam events he took part in this year.
Hewett is a 26-time major champion and his story of overcoming adversity could strike a chord with the voting public on the night.
