Who Will Win BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2025? Six On Shortlist
The shortlist has been announced for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year which takes place in Salford on Thursday.
MediaCity UK will host the glittering ceremony which will see the public vote for the main prize as well as Team of the Year for the first time.
Rory McIlroy has been cut from 8/11 to 4/7 with some betting sites, but he is under increasing pressure from Lando Norris, who is now the second favourite after securing his first Formula One World Championship.
England Lioness Chloe Kelly, who hopes to become the fifth woman in a row to win the award, is also in contention to land the prestigious prize.
We take a look at the six candidates and the latest BBC Sports Personality of the Year Odds.
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Rory McIlroy
McIlroy finally completed the Grand Slam this year (which requires wins at the US Masters, USPGA Championship, US Open and The Open) 11 years after winning his fourth major title.
He was overcome by emotion after the winning shot at Augusta National, sinking to his knees and crying once victory was secured.
Four weeks earlier, the Northern Irishman had won The Players Championship for a second time, a tournament long regarded as the fifth unofficial major, and in September he captured the Irish Open, nine years after his first success, which also came at the K Club.
Sports Personality Of The Year Odds:
For many, though, his crowning glory came a few weeks later when he led Europe to a stunning victory in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in the face of boorish abuse from the US crowd.
The closest McIlroy came to winning SPOTY was in 2014, the year he won The Open and the USPGA Championship, finishing runner-up to F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Could this finally be McIlroy’s year? The odds suggest he is in the driving seat.
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Lando Norris
Last month, Norris was priced at double-digit odds to win SPOTY, but a lot has changed since then for the Formula One driver.
The McLaren star was crowned Formula One world champion for the first time earlier this month, clinching the title at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A third-place finish was enough to pip Max Verstappen by just two points in one of the tightest title races of recent years, making Norris Britain’s 11th F1 world champion and McLaren’s first since 2008.
Bookmakers reacted quickly, but since the shortlist was announced his odds have drifted slightly from 7/2 to 4/1.
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Chloe Kelly
Chloe Kelly is bidding to follow Beth Mead and Mary Earps in becoming the third Lioness in four years to win the Sports Personality of the Year award.
The 27-year-old forward certainly has a strong case, having led England to a successful defence of their Women’s European Championship title in Switzerland.
Chloe Kelly
I LOVE ENGLAND pic.twitter.com/UVgmRRStI2
— Chloe (@chloekelly) July 29, 2025
Kelly, who returned to Arsenal from Manchester City in July following a loan spell, was the hero in the summer, scoring the match-winning penalty in the final against Spain, three years after bagging an extra-time winner in the title-decider against Germany.
Despite not starting a single game at Euro 2025, Kelly’s impact from off the bench in the matches against Sweden (QF), Italy (SF) and Spain proved to be game-changing and it is no surprise to see her towards the head of the market.
Once priced at 7/4 to win the prize, she has drifted to 11/2 following market support for McIlroy and Norris.
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Luke Littler
Darts sensation Luke Littler became the youngest player to win the world championship, aged 17, at the start of an incredible year for the Warrington teenager.
Littler recently celebrated becoming the youngest world number one with a successful defence of his Grand Slam of Darts title, beating big rival Luke Humphries 16-11 in the final.
The youngster then made it six major ranking titles this year with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
He was runner-up in SPOTY last year behind Keely Hodgkinson, so voters already know his story.
That said, with McIlroy, Norris and Kelly dominating the headlines, Littler (20/1) will need some late support to have a chance of going one better this year.
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Hannah Hampton
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has had an exceptional year.
Recently named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and crowned the world’s best female goalkeeper at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, she was pivotal in England’s Euro 2025 triumph, saving penalties in shoot-outs against both Sweden and Spain.
Her shot-stopping heroics for the Lionesses and form for Chelsea have earned her a place in the SPOTY shortlist, although one of the betting apps has Hampton priced at 70/1.
Goalkeepers traditionally struggle to win popularity-based awards, so she may need a significant late surge of public support to upset the market leaders.
Hannah Hampton
"I've got big gloves and big shoes to fill."@hannahhampton_ wants to build on the legacy of @Lionesses goalkeepers who have gone before her 🙌
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 25, 2025
The Chelsea and England number one has been voted BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2025. pic.twitter.com/rqy329exVi
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Odds: Ellie Kildunne
England rugby star Ellie Kildunne was 100/1 at the time of our last preview, but her odds have been cut to 70/1 since the shortlist announcement was made.
The 26-year-old from Keighley in West Yorkshire played a prominent role in the Red Roses' sensational World Cup triumph, scoring two tries in the semi-final against France.
She then produced a stunning solo try against Canada in the final at Twickenham.
Earlier in the year, Kildunne scored four tries as England retained their Six Nations title by winning another Grand Slam
