BBC Sports Personality of the Year Odds: Mary Earps way out in front

The countdown is on for when the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be crowned in December with a host of top sports stars hoping to succeed Arsenal and England footballer Beth Mead, who took the big prize last year.

Another Lioness, Mary Earps, is highly fancied to take the prize while retiring cricketer Stuart Broad and jockey Frankie Dettori, who will end riding in Britain this year, are also in the running.

2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Winner odds

• Mary Earps - 1/10
• Stuart Broad - 8/1
• Frankie Dettori - 22/1
• Katarina Johnson-Thompson - 18/1
• Alfie Hewett- 33/1
• Rory McIlroy - 66/1

Mary Earps

Current outright odds - 1/10

Mead’s win last year came after she was the top goalscorer at the Euros, which England won by beating Germany in extra-time.

The Arsenal forward has only just returned to action after a serious knee injury so was not in a position to make a bold defence of her crown, but one of her team-mates firmly in the reckoning is goalkeeper Mary Earps.

The Lionesses were unable to add the World Cup to their European trophy in Australia and New Zealand as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final, but the Manchester United custodian still made a massive contribution in the tournament.

She won the Golden Glove award for being the best goalkeeper and produced a memorable moment when she saved a penalty from Jenni Hormoso in the final.

Stuart Broad

Current outright odds - 8/1

England bowler Stuart Broad, who retired from all forms of cricket following the summer’s Ashes series, is next in the betting and could push the Lionesses keeper all the way.

It was certainly a fairytale ending for Broad on a personal note, even though his efforts were not enough for England to regain the urn, which stayed in Australia after a thrilling series ended in a 2-2 draw.

Nevertheless, Broad hit a six with the final ball he faced in his career and he was able to help England secure a win in the final Test at The Oval as the Nottinghamshire paceman took the final two wickets.

Broad ended his career with 604 Test wickets from 167 matches and will have his followers after being a stalwart for many years in both the one-day international and Twenty20 teams.

Frankie Dettori

Current outright odds - 22/1

Frankie Dettori has gone back on his decision to retire from the saddle, announcing that he intends to ride full-time in the USA, but he is bound to be a popular choice as he waves goodbye to British racing.

Dettori claimed third spot in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 1996, the year he rode his Magnificent Seven at Ascot.

Racing's biggest personality has had an excellent final season in Britain, which includes winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Chaldean, his 23rd classic.

The 52-year-old also rode two winners on his final day in British racing on Champions Day at Ascot, and if the racing community pool their voting efforts as they did for Sir Anthony McCoy in 2010, then he could have a good chance.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

Current outright odds - 18/1

Athletes tend to do well in the Sports Personality of the Year award and, after this year’s World Championships, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson is considered the sport’s most likely competitor.

The multi-discipline star won her second World Championships gold in Budapest, running a personal best in the final event, the 800 metres, and that capped a great comeback from the injury that curtailed her hopes of winning Olympic gold in Tokyo.

In all, 18 athletes have won the main prize, the last being Sir Mo Farah in 2017.

Alfie Hewett

Current outright odds - 66/1

British OBE appointed wheelchair tennis professional Alfie Hewett is the former world no.1 singles player and is currently ranked as world no.1 in doubles alongside his partner Gordon Reid.

The pair have won 18 doubles titles together and Hewett has accumulated eight more titles in the singles tournaments, making him a 26-time major champion in total.

Hewett is ending 2023 as world no.1 for the first time in his career having won both the Wheelchair Tennis Masters singles and doubles titles.

Earlier this year Hewett won his fourth singles title at the US Open with victory over doubles partner Reid in the first ever Open Era all-British Grand Slam Final.  

Rory McIlroy

Current outright odds - 66/1

Rory McIlroy leads golf’s charge once again after playing a pivotal role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory over the USA and claiming three top-ten finishes in the Majors this year, including the runners-up spot behind Wyndham Clark in the US Open.

McIlroy was second in 2014 behind Lewis Hamilton after winning both The Open and the US PGA Championship, which was his last Major success.

However, golfers have a dismal record in Sports Personality of the Year with just two winners in the competition’s history, the last being Sir Nick Faldo in 1989.