Mary Earps headlines six nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Manchester United Women and England Women goalkeeper Mary Earps headlines six nominees for the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

One year on from playing a pivotal role in the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph, Earps won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper at the 2023 World Cup as England lost to Spain in the final.

Earps kept three clean sheets in this summer's tournament and saved a penalty from Jenni Hermoso in the showpiece match, and her feats were recognised with a Ballon d'Or Feminin nomination, placing higher than any of her compatriots in fifth.

The 30-year-old also helped England to Finalissima glory against Brazil, saving from Tamires in the shootout, while also collecting a league-high 14 Women's Super League clean sheets and winning an FA Cup runners-up medal with Man United.

Among Earps's individual accolades were the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year, England Women's Footballer of the Year and the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year, while off the field, the shot-stopper fronted a campaign to reverse Nike's decision not to sell replica Earps jerseys.

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After the sportswear brand reversed their decision in the wake of heavy criticism, Earps shirts sold out within five minutes of going on sale on Monday, and the Man United number one is regarded as the favourite to take home the SPOTY honour.

Should Earps indeed collect the prize during the ceremony on December 19, it would mark the first time that the award has been won by a footballer in successive years after her fellow Lioness Beth Mead won the 2022 accolade.

Among Earps's competitors are former England cricketer Stuart Broad, who stepped away from the sport following England's victory over Australia in the fifth Ashes test, where he took his 604th wicket.

Broad's phenomenal wicket tally during a 16-year career places him fifth in the all-time Test charts, and only compatriot James Anderson (690) has registered more among fast bowlers.

Fellow nominees include legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, who placed third in 1996, as he announced that the 2023 racing season would be his final year on British shores and bid farewell with another handful of notable victories.

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Among Dettori's triumphs were the 2000 Guineas, the Coronation Cup, the Oaks and the Long Distance Cup before riding King of Steel to victory at the Champion Stakes at Ascot, his final race before jetting off to the United States.

Elsewhere, Katarina Johnson-Thompson is also up for the prize after regaining her heptathlon title at the World Championships, taking 6740 points to fend off the USA's Anna Hall.

Golfer Rory McIlroy has earned another nomination after finishing as runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2014, having shone during Europe's Ryder Cup triumph while also prevailing at the Dubai Desert Classic and Scottish Open.

Finally, wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett has been shortlisted thanks to a brilliant haul of five Grand Slam wins in 2023, taking the singles titles at the Australian Open and US Open while also winning doubles crowns in Melbourne, Wimbledon and the French Open.

Written by
Ben Knapton