England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023.
Earps, 30, was the Lionesses’ standout player as they reached a first World Cup final in the summer and was named the best goalkeeper at the tournament – claiming the Golden Glove.
It is the second consecutive year a women’s footballer has won the award.
England cricketer Stuart Broad was second, with world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson third.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett and golfer Rory McIlroy were also shortlisted for the award by a panel of experts, with the winner decided by a public vote.
Manchester United’s Earps followed Lionesses team-mate Beth Mead in being named Sports Personality of the Year and became the third woman to win it in a row – the first time that has happened since the 1960s.
The Fifa Best Women’s Goalkeeper played every minute of England’s seven World Cup matches, conceding only four goals and keeping three clean sheets as well as saving a penalty in the final, which England lost 1-0 to Spain.
She was also part of England’s Euro 2022 triumph, helping the Lionesses to win their first major trophy.
Earps was voted England Women’s Player of the Year for 2022-23 and finished fifth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or award.
The BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year was also integral as England won the inaugural Women’s Finalissima with a penalty shootout defeat of Brazil in April.
In domestic football, Earps claimed the Women’s Super League Golden Glove for the 2022-23 season with Manchester United, having kept a record 14 clean sheets.
She also became the first goalkeeper to keep 50 clean sheets in the WSL.
More to follow.
