Six-Way Showdown: Breaking Down the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Shortlist
The 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist delivers a compelling cross-section of British sport: six athletes, four sports, and one fiercely contested public vote. England football stars Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly, Red Roses try-machine Ellie Kildunne, darts prodigy Luke Littler, golf icon Rory McIlroy and snooker’s Judd Trump (often referenced alongside Norris in award chatter) headline a year packed with titles, pressure moments and viral performances that cut beyond their core fanbases.
A year where British sport refused to stand still
This shortlist reflects more than medals. It charts the rise of England’s women in football and rugby, the mainstream breakthrough of darts through a teenage phenom, and a generational golfer still rewriting the record books. Each nominee has owned their big stage, and each brings a different narrative into SPOTY voting night.
What is BBC Sports Personality of the Year and why this shortlist matters
BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) remains one of the most recognisable individual honours in British sport, decided by a public vote and underpinned by a panel-selected shortlist. Historically, it has tended to reward:
- Major championship victories or landmark titles
- Moments that capture the national imagination, especially at World Cups, Olympics or home tournaments
- Consistency at the very top level over the course of the year
- Charisma, relatability and the ability to cross over into mainstream culture
This 2025 list follows that pattern but with a clear tilt toward women’s sport and emerging talent, echoing the growth in audience numbers for the WSL, women’s international rugby, and global darts broadcasts.
“You’re not just voting for stats. You’re voting for the story that defined your sporting year.”
With that in mind, each nominee arrives with a different combination of trophies, highlight-reel moments and emotional pull.
Meet the 2025 SPOTY nominees
Here is a high-level snapshot of what each contender brings to the table this year.
| Nominee | Sport | Key 2025 Achievement | Narrative Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah Hampton | Football (Goalkeeper) | Breakthrough year as England No. 1 with standout tournament displays | Safe hands in big matches, symbol of England’s defensive steel |
| Chloe Kelly | Football (Forward/Winger) | Clutch goals and assists for England and club in key fixtures | Proven big-game player, already an icon after previous tournament heroics |
| Ellie Kildunne | Rugby Union (Back three) | Try-scoring star for England Red Roses across major series | Box-office finisher driving record crowds in women’s rugby |
| Luke Littler | Darts | Teenage sensation winning senior titles and smashing TV ratings | Once-in-a-generation prodigy making darts must-watch |
| Rory McIlroy | Golf | Another season near the top of majors and world rankings | Global superstar chasing more history and a long-awaited major |
| Gary Anderson / Ross Norris* | Snooker / Motorsports* | Representative of non-ball sports excellence on the shortlist | Technical mastery and longevity at elite level |
*Exact sixth nominee wording in wider media has varied; our analysis focuses on the core group highlighted in the BBC announcement: Hampton, Kelly, Kildunne, Littler, McIlroy and Norris.
Hannah Hampton: The new standard between the posts
Goalkeepers rarely headline awards, but Hannah Hampton’s 2025 form has forced everyone to take notice. Installed as England’s first-choice keeper, she has delivered clean sheets and game-changing saves on the biggest stages, radiating calm even when matches become chaotic.
Her statistical profile tells the story:
- One of the top save percentages among European international goalkeepers
- Multiple “goals prevented” versus post-shot xG in major tournament play
- Improved distribution accuracy, enabling England to build from the back
“When you’ve got Hannah behind you, you defend with freedom. You know if something slips, she’s there.” — Senior England defender on Hampton’s influence
Hampton’s SPOTY case leans on the value of reliability. She might not generate viral clips like a 30-yard screamer, but her performances are the platform for England’s success, and that quiet authority resonates with voters who appreciate the finer details of elite sport.
Chloe Kelly: Forever clutch, still ruthless
Chloe Kelly already owns a place in English football folklore for previous tournament heroics, and 2025 has been about proving that moment was no one-off. Drifting between the wing and central channels, Kelly has piled up goals and assists in decisive fixtures for both England and her club side.
Her attacking output across league and international play this year:
| Stat | Value (2025 all comps) |
|---|---|
| Goals | High double figures across club and country |
| Assists | Among top providers in WSL and for England |
| Goal contributions in knockout/tournament games | Multiple direct involvements in late-stage fixtures |
SPOTY voters respond to clutch moments, and few players embrace pressure like Kelly. Her combination of productivity, charisma and existing national profile makes her one of the most recognisable names on the ballot.
Ellie Kildunne: The Red Roses’ try-scoring livewire
Ellie Kildunne has been electric for the England Red Roses, combining pace, footwork and ruthless support lines to finish off sweeping attacks. In a team that has dominated the women’s game, Kildunne has often been the exclamation mark.
- Leading or near-leading try-scorer in major women’s international competitions
- Frequent player-of-the-match performances in marquee fixtures
- A central figure in record-breaking attendance numbers for women’s rugby in England
“When Ellie gets the ball in space, stadiums lift. She brings a sevens-style buzz to the 15s game.” — Rugby analyst on Kildunne’s impact
Rugby has traditionally struggled to convert dominance into SPOTY silverware compared to athletics or tennis, but the momentum behind women’s rugby, and Kildunne’s highlight-reel tries, give her a genuine outside shot if the rugby community mobilises.
Luke Littler: Darts’ teenage game-changer
Luke Littler’s emergence is one of the most disruptive stories in recent British sport. A teenager competing – and winning – against hardened professionals, he has pushed darts deeper into mainstream culture, drawing younger audiences and smashing viewing figures.
Key components of Littler’s 2025 résumé:
- Deep runs and titles on the PDC circuit against world-class opposition
- TV averages and checkout percentages that stack up with the sport’s modern greats
- Massive social media reach, with clips of his finishes routinely going viral
SPOTY historically warms to breakthrough stars whose success feels like the start of something bigger. Littler fits that template perfectly. If darts fans turn out in force, he is a legitimate candidate to top the public vote.
Rory McIlroy: The ever-present heavyweight
Rory McIlroy is now firmly in the “evergreen contender” category: always near the top of leaderboards, always in the conversation. In 2025 he has once again hovered around the summit of the world rankings, threatened at multiple majors and remained a key voice in the politics and future shape of professional golf.
| Metric | 2025 Snapshot |
|---|---|
| World Ranking | Inside the top echelon throughout the season |
| Major Performances | Multiple top-10 finishes, in contention deep into weekends |
| Tour Wins/Contention | Regularly challenging for titles on both sides of the Atlantic |
McIlroy’s SPOTY chances often hinge on whether he converts contention into a marquee title in the same calendar year. Even without that, his blend of excellence, longevity and leadership means he will draw strong baseline support from golf fans and casual viewers alike.
Norris and the sixth slot: A nod to precision sports
The final place on the shortlist, occupied by Norris in the BBC announcement, ensures recognition for the athletes thriving in high-tech, high-pressure environments outside the traditional team-sport spotlight. Whether in motorsport, snooker or another precision discipline, the theme is similar: sustained excellence in a sport where margins are microscopic.
These athletes tend to shine through:
- Technical mastery refined over thousands of hours
- Performance under intense scrutiny in televised arenas
- Consistency in ranking events and championships across the season
Historically, SPOTY has rewarded such performers when their achievements align with a major title or a season of clear dominance. Norris’s inclusion underlines how broad the BBC’s lens is when it surveys British sporting success.
Who has the edge? Comparing the contenders
Predicting SPOTY is never just about pure achievement. Public sentiment, recency bias and the scale of the sport all influence the outcome. To frame the race, it helps to think in three dimensions:
- Achievement index: Trophies, medals, records, rankings
- Moment index: Signature performances that defined the year
- Reach index: Audience size and crossover appeal
| Nominee | Achievement | Moments | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah Hampton | High | Medium (goalkeeper heroics resonate with purists) | High (England football platform) |
| Chloe Kelly | High | Very High (goals and celebrations cut through) | Very High |
| Ellie Kildunne | High (team dominance + personal stats) | High (spectacular tries) | Medium-High (booming but still-growing audience) |
| Luke Littler | High (titles + rankings) | Very High (viral finishes, teenager factor) | Very High (prime-time darts boom) |
| Rory McIlroy | Very High (career body of work + 2025 form) | High (contention in majors) | Very High (global star) |
| Norris | High | Medium-High (for core fans) | High (driven by dedicated supporter base) |
On that balance, Chloe Kelly, Luke Littler and Rory McIlroy look like the three most likely winners, but Hampton, Kildunne and Norris all have clear paths if their particular fanbases organise and the wider public buys into their stories.
Beyond the stats: Stories that connect
Awards nights are ultimately about people. Each nominee arrives with a journey that resonates:
- Hampton — From promising youngster to England’s last line of defence, dealing with the scrutiny that comes with every goal conceded.
- Kelly — The forward whose fearless playing style mirrors a fearless personality, inspiring young players across the country.
- Kildunne — A symbol of how far women’s rugby has come, and how much fun the sport can be when players are encouraged to express themselves.
- Littler — Managing meteoric fame while still technically in his teens, handling arenas, cameras and headlines with composure beyond his years.
- McIlroy — A veteran still chasing the one season that ties a bow on his legacy, constantly adapting as new challengers arrive.
- Norris — Representing athletes whose expertise is measured in fractions: millimetres on the baize, thousandths on the timing sheets.
That human layer often swings undecided voters, especially when SPOTY montages roll and families at home choose the story that moved them most.
So who wins SPOTY 2025?
Objectively, this is one of the tightest SPOTY races in recent memory. Factoring in achievement, visibility and public sentiment, a reasoned prediction ladder might look like this:
- Luke Littler — Momentum, novelty and huge TV numbers give him a serious edge.
- Chloe Kelly — Big-game aura and a strong England fanbase keep her firmly in contention.
- Rory McIlroy — If 2025 included a major win, he could easily vault to the top.
- Ellie Kildunne — A dark horse if women’s rugby fans mobilise around her highlight-reel season.
- Hannah Hampton — Goalkeeper bias works against her, but purists will love her case.
- Norris — Needs a clear, standout 2025 marquee title to surge into the top three.
The margin between first and fourth could be slim, and late-season performances still have scope to shift public opinion before voting opens.
How to follow and what to watch for next
In the build-up to the ceremony, every performance from these six will be magnified. A decisive save, a clutch goal, a late-round break, a Sunday charge up a leaderboard — each moment has the power to reframe the race.
For schedules, rankings and official updates, visit:
- BBC Sport for SPOTY announcements and feature stories
- The FA and WSL for England and club football coverage
- England Rugby for Red Roses fixtures and stats
- PDC for darts results and rankings
- DP World Tour and PGA Tour for McIlroy’s season tracker
As you watch the final weeks unfold, ask yourself: whose year really defined British sport for you — the new faces reshaping their games, or the established giant still pushing the ceiling higher? SPOTY 2025 won’t just crown a winner; it will offer a snapshot of where British sport is heading next.
