BBC Sports Personality of the Year odds: Kelly the new favourite
The Arsenal forward's inspirational performances from the bench helped England through to the final of the summer tournament, in which she scored the winning penalty in a victory against Spain.
This resulted in Kelly becoming the leader in the SPOTY betting, moving ahead of the Masters winner and previous favourite Rory McIlroy. Kelly's England team-mate Hannah Hampton is third favourite.
Take a look at the odds below and read on for our expert analysis.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year odds
Odds courtesy of bet365 correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Who will be the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
Let's take a look at the leading contenders to become the next BBC Sports Personality of the Year, along with some fringe candidates whose prices could drop.
Chloe Kelly – evens
A footballer couldn't really ask for a better year than the one Kelly is enjoying. The Londoner left Manchester City to return home to her first club Arsenal in January, where she ended the season with a victory in the Champions League final against Barcelona.
Despite not being a starter in England's Euro 2025 team, her contributions from the bench in the knockout stages were key to the Lionesses' triumph. She sparked the quarter-final comeback against Sweden, scored the winner to eliminate Italy in the semi-final and then created the equaliser against Spain in the final, before converting the decider from the spot in the penalty shootout.
Rory McIlroy – 2/1
If Kelly's achievements in 2025 are going to be hard to beat, McIlroy's claim to the SPOTY crown is based on the success he has enjoyed over his entire career. He won the Masters in 2025 to complete a career grand slam of the major championships.
Just six golfers in history have achieved this and McIlroy is the only Brit to do it. The feat could be enough to swing the vote in the Northern Irishman's favour and, if he's part of a European Ryder Cup victory on US soil in September, you can expect him to return as favourite.
Hannah Hampton – 9/1
Casual fans of women's football might have been surprised to see Hampton in goal for England at Euro 2025 after Mary Earps decided to retire from international football before the finals, but her performances at the tournament justified Sarina Wiegman's decision to pick the Chelsea keeper.
She saved two penalties in each of the shootout victories against Sweden in the quarter-finals and Spain in the final. This followed a domestic treble with Chelsea in the 2024-25 season, crowning a brilliant year for a footballer who had to overcome a serious eye condition as a child.
Lando Norris – 10/1
Norris is currently battling with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to land the 2025 Formula One World Championship.
If he can win that contest, then Norris will be a contender to be named Sports Personality of the Year, with F1 drivers such as Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton having all previously been bestowed with this honour.
Luke Littler –20/1
Littler is hampered by the fact that darts is not taken as seriously as other sports, otherwise he would be priced much shorter, having finished second in SPOTY last year.
The 18-year-old has had a remarkable 2025 in which he has already won the World Championship, UK Open and World Matchplay titles. You wouldn't bet against him eventually winning this award, but no darts player has ever claimed it and he might need a year without such strong candidates.
Other contenders
When betting on Sports Personality of the Year, you have to look at coming events that may catapult an athlete into contention.
Rugby union player Ellie Kildunne is already a relatively short price at 25/1, having been a key part of the England team who won the Six Nations. If the team were to also win the 2025 Rugby World Cup that starts this month, then the odds of the reigning world player of the year should shorten.
The US Open tennis takes place in August and September and a British victory could see a tennis star move into single figures. Emma Raducanu won SPOTY in 2021 after her surprise victory at Flushing Meadows and both she and Jack Draper are priced at 66/1.
A number of athletes are also hovering around that price point, due to the 2025 Athletics World Championships taking place in September.
The likes of Keely Hodgkinson (55/1), Dina Asher-Smith (66/1) and Matthew Hudson-Smith (66/1) all have a chance of being on the shortlist if they land gold in Tokyo.
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