logo
Lionesses star Hannah Hampton is second favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year after more penalty heroics in Women's Euros final

Lionesses star Hannah Hampton is second favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year after more penalty heroics in Women's Euros final

Daily Mail​7 days ago
Hannah Hampton is now the second favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after her latest spot-kick heroics helped England retain their European crown.
The Chelsea goalkeeper was the Lionesses' shootout star once again as they beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Sunday's Women's Euro 2025 final in Basel, following a tense 1-1 draw after extra time.
Hampton denied both Mariona Caldentey and Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati from the spot, before Salma Paralluelo fired wide – capping a second shootout masterclass from the 24-year-old at this tournament.
She also saved two penalties in England's chaotic quarter-final win over Sweden, establishing herself as one of the breakout stars of the summer.
It marks a remarkable rise for Hampton, who was an understudy to Mary Earps during England's Euros triumph on home soil in 2022 and again at the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Earps herself won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2023 after saving a penalty in the World Cup final — also against Spain — albeit in a losing cause.
Earps finished ahead of Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the public vote that year.
According to Betfair, Hampton is now joint second-favourite at 5/1 to win SPOTY, behind only Rory McIlroy, who leads the market at Evens after a stellar season that included winning The Masters in April — his first Green Jacket and fifth major overall.
Formula One star Lando Norris is also priced at 5/1, having recently claimed a hugely popular victory at Silverstone, winning the British Grand Prix for the first time in his career.
The McLaren driver is also currently just 16 points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri in the race for the world drivers' championship.
England captain Lucy Bronze (15/2) and fellow Lioness Leah Williamson (16/1) are also in the running, while teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is priced at 9/1.
A Betfair spokesperson said: 'Hannah Hampton is the new second-favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after saving two penalties to help England win Euro 2025 on Sunday.
'Hampton, 5/1, is joined by fellow Lionesses Lucy Bronze, 15/2, and Leah Williamson, 16/1, who are amongst the contenders to win the award.
Rory McIlroy remains the favourite at Evens, with Lando Norris trailing at 5/1. Meanwhile, Luke Littler is 9/1 to take home the illustrious award.'
BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2025: LATEST ODDS
Rory McIlroy – Evens
Hannah Hampton – 5/1
Lando Norris – 5/1
Lucy Bronze – 15/2 (was 16/1)
Luke Littler – 9/1
Leah Williamson – 16/1 (was 20/1)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Enzo Maresca makes shock U-turn and tries to block Chelsea transfer
Enzo Maresca makes shock U-turn and tries to block Chelsea transfer

Metro

time6 minutes ago

  • Metro

Enzo Maresca makes shock U-turn and tries to block Chelsea transfer

Enzo Maresca has held fresh talks with Christopher Nkunku in a bid to convince the misfiring Chelsea forward to stay at Stamford Bridge. Nkunku was expected to be sold by Chelsea following another disappointing season at the Premier League club. Chelsea spent £52m to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig in 2023 but the France international missed most of his first season in west London through injury. Nkunku was back fit last season but still endured a disappointing campaign, contributing just three goals in the Premier League. Chelsea fans have been hugely underwhelmed by Nkunku's form at the club considering he was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2021-22 and was the league's top goalscorer before his arrival. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The Blues were open to offers for Nkunku during the January transfer window and were expected to cash in on the 27-year-old this summer. Chelsea have bolstered Maresca's squad with several new signings this summer so the sale of Nkunku would give them a chance to make room for the new additions and raise some funds. However, according to L'Equipe, Maresca recently held talks with Nkunku and made it clear that he could still be part of his project at Stamford Bridge. Maresca appreciates Nkunku's profile and knows squad depth will be needed as Chelsea look to challenge Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City for the title while competing in Europe. It is unclear whether Nkunku will settle for a rotational role in Maresca's squad as he has aspirations of making France's squad for next summer's World Cup. Appearances: 65Goals: 6 Assists: 2 His representatives are also aware of interest from several possible suitors, recently holding talks with Serie A giants Inter Milan. French outlet L'Equipe say clubs in the bottom-half of the Premier League have also expressed interest in a deal but Nkunku intends to play for a top-level club. Nkunku was linked with Bayern Munich and Manchester United earlier in the summer but those two clubs appear to be focusing on other targets. In an exclusive interview with Metro back in April, former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf urged both the club and Nkunku to 'cut their losses' and go their separate ways this summer. 'I think they need to cut their losses and go their separate ways,' the ex-Chelsea centre-back said. 'It's best for the club but also the future of the player. Careers are pretty short so you have to react quickly if it doesn't work. More Trending 'And it can happen like this – sometimes the chemistry doesn't work. I was very happy to see him come to Chelsea, but it's never worked. 'He's never been able to settle down, maybe because the position he's been offered wasn't the right one. 'It's always difficult to come from a family club like Leipzig to a club where you have to perform and the pressure is one you always. I had that when I moved from Strasbourg to Chelsea and it's a big task if you're not able to cope with the situation. 'It's never worked for him but he's still a good player. He will have to rebound but we've seen that before with players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah when they left.' Chelsea have two pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan next weekend before their Premier League campaign starts on August 17 against Crystal Palace. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: James Maddison update after Tottenham star suffers 'brutal' injury MORE: Ian Wright's dream Arsenal signing announces he wants summer transfer MORE: Tottenham could hijack Arsenal's bid to sign Eberechi Eze as they look to replace Son Heung-Min

Lando Norris holds off Oscar Piastri in thrilling finale to Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris holds off Oscar Piastri in thrilling finale to Hungarian Grand Prix

The Independent

time6 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Lando Norris holds off Oscar Piastri in thrilling finale to Hungarian Grand Prix

Lando Norris held off a thrilling late charge from Oscar Piastri to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and reduce his F1 world championship rival's lead to nine points. Norris was running in fourth place but benefited from stopping for tyres one fewer time than his rivals to land his fifth victory of the season. The British driver took the chequered flag just six tenths ahead of Piastri, who went within centimetres of colliding with Norris on the last-but-one lap when he locked up his front-right tyre at the opening corner.'Remember how we go racing, Oscar,' came the warning from his race engineer, Tom Stallard. George Russell passed Charles Leclerc with eight laps to go to take the final spot on the podium. Pole-sitter Leclerc had to settle for fourth. Lewis Hamilton, who urged Ferrari to replace him after he qualified only 12th, finished in the same position, a lap down. Norris' win in the concluding round before the summer break – his third triumph from his last four appearances – reignites his bid to land a maiden world crown. But the Bristolian can count himself somewhat fortunate to be standing on the top step of the podium. Norris started third, and although he got away well from his marks, an attempt to pass Piastri on the inside of the opening corner backfired. Norris did not commit to the overtake and that left him in no-man's land, allowing Russell and then Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to breeze through. On lap three, Norris fought his way clear of Alonso but was then tucked up behind Russell and making little progress. On Saturday, Hamilton described himself as 'absolutely useless' after he was knocked out of Q2 with Leclerc, in the other scarlet car, having taken the Scuderia's first pole of the year. By the end of the first lap, Hamilton dropped behind Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli and was 14th. By eight laps, he was 20 seconds behind Leclerc, and at the end of lap 14, he trailed his team-mate by half a minute. Piastri was the first of the leaders to blink, stopping for hard tyres on lap 18. Ferrari, reacting to Piastri's stop, pulled in Leclerc on the next lap. TOP-10 - HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX On fresh tyres, Piastri had been quicker than the Ferrari, but Leclerc managed to stay ahead. Russell also stopped on lap 19 promoting Norris to the lead. Further back, and Max Verstappen, who had also taken on fresh tyres, was tucked up behind Hamilton, yet to stop, in a duel for 11th. Verstappen threw his Red Bull underneath Hamilton's Ferrari at Turn 4 on lap 29, with the seven-time world champion running off the road and losing the place to his old nemesis. The flashpoint will be investigated by the stewards after the race. Returning to the front, and McLaren were now considering a one-stop strategy for Norris. His race engineer, Will Joseph, was on the radio: 'Lando, 40 laps on the hard tyre, you up for it?' Norris replied: 'Yeah, why not?' On lap 31 of 70 he came in for his sole change of tyres before lighting up the timesheets with the fastest laps of the race so far. Norris then dropped two wheels through the gravel on the exit of the chicane, which irked Joseph. 'Lando, just keep the focus, we don't want these mistakes,' he said. Both Leclerc and Piastri were forced to stop again on laps 40 and 45, respectively. Norris now led Leclerc by seven seconds, with Piastri five seconds further back. But Piastri was on the move, swatting Leclerc aside on lap 51 and then setting about reducing Norris' nine-second advantage. With five laps to go, Piastri was just a second behind, and on the penultimate lap attempted a banzai move at the first corner but Norris remained ahead to land what could be a pivotal win in his championship charge. Alonso finished fifth, one place ahead of rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. Verstappen finished ninth, with Hamilton fighting his way past Pierre Gasly and then Sainz but finished outside of the points on a desperate weekend for the 40-year-old. 'I am dead, I am dead,' Norris said. 'We were not planning on the one stop, but it was our only chance after the first lap. I have pushed hard, and my voice has gone a little bit but it was the perfect result today. 'We are so close in the championship, it is hard to say if the momentum is on either side, but it is fun racing against Oscar, and I just about held on so I look forward to plenty more of these.' Piastri said: 'I pushed as hard as I could. After I saw Lando take on the one stop, I knew I would have to overtake on track and that is easier said than done.'

Marlie Packer cleared for opening match of England's World Cup campaign
Marlie Packer cleared for opening match of England's World Cup campaign

The Independent

time6 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Marlie Packer cleared for opening match of England's World Cup campaign

England flanker Marlie Packer will be available to feature in the opening match of the World Cup after being handed a one-match ban for her red card in Saturday's win over Spain. The 35-year-old was sent off in the second half of the Red Roses' 97-7 warm-up victory in Leicester following a clumsy clearout on the left leg of Spain full-back Claudia Pena. Packer's suspension rules her out of her country's final warm-up match, away to France on Saturday. Hosts England begin the World Cup on Friday, August 22 against the United States in Sunderland. In determining the sanction, World Rugby's foul play review committee noted Packer accepted foul play occurred but she did not agree the offence warranted a red card. Her challenge, which did not result in injury to Harlequins player Pena, was deemed to be 'reckless'. The committee decided the offence warranted a two-match ban but opted to award full 50 per cent mitigation. England's 15-try success at Welford Road was Packer's first match as captain since being replaced in the full-time role by Zoe Aldcroft in January. The Saracens forward, who has 111 Test caps, led the Red Roses to back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams in 2023 and 2024 and is one of head coach John Mitchell's vice-captains.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store