England goalkeeper Mary Earps was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023, ahead of cricketer Stuart Broad and heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, with jockey Frankie Dettori, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett and golfer Rory McIlroy also shortlisted for the award. Nottingham-born Earps made her full international debut for the Lionesses in their final qualifying match for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a 6-0 rout of Kazakhstan at the Astana Arena, in September 2018. However, she spent the tournament proper warming the bench as third-choice goalkeeper and subsequently fell out of favour with then England Phil Neville before being recalled to the squad by his successor Sarina Wiegman.
In fact, on her first appearance for the Lionesses since November 2019, Earps was named as starting goalkeeper in an 8-0 thrashing of North Macedonia at St. Mary’s in September 2021 and soon established herself as first choice between the sticks. Indeed, she played every minute of all six games in the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship, in which England beat old rivals Germany 2-1, after extra time, in the final at Wembley, thereby winning their first major tournament. Unsurprisingly she was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
At 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Earps was once again the Lionesses’ outstanding player, playing every minute of all seven matches, keeping three clean sheets and saving a penalty from Spanish forward Jennifer Hermoso in the final at the Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, which England nonetheless lost 1-0 to Spain. She was, once again, rewarded with the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
Domestically, as first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United, also won the Women’s Super League Golden Glove for 2022/23, having kept a record 14 clean sheets, and was subsequently named England Women’s Player of the Year for 2022/23. Collecting the Sports Personality of the Year award, Earps said, “I would not be here without my team-mates with the Lionesses and at Manchester United because we’ve achieved some incredible things over the last couple of years. While individual accolades are great, they only come after team success. This is their trophy just as much as mine.”