For the first time in BBC Sports Personality of the Year history, the power is entirely in the hands of the public with the Team of the Year Award being decided by a public vote and closing live on the night. From Monday 15 December, fans across the UK can rally behind the team that inspired them most in 2025.
Three exceptional teams have made the shortlist, each earning their place through sensational performances, standout achievements and unforgettable moments that captured the nation’s hearts this year.
The contenders (listed alphabetically) are:
- England Women’s Football Team (Lionesses)
- England Women’s Rugby Union Team (Red Roses)
- European Ryder Cup Team
Public voting for this year’s Team of the Year is open online now via bbc.co.uk/spoty and will close during the live awards show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm-9pm this Thursday, 18 December. The winning team will be crowned live on the night.
Hosted by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, the star-studded BBC Sports Personality of the Year show will broadcast live from the home of BBC Sport in MediaCity, Salford.
The shortlisting panel for this year’s awards included 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, 71-cap former England football international Anita Asante, double Paralympic gold medal-winning sprinter Libby Clegg, former world champion boxer Carl Frampton, 2009 World Cup winning cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, media personality and sports presenter Josh Denzel, sports broadcaster and Match of the Day co-host Kelly Cates, chief sports feature writer for the Daily Mail, Riath Al-Samarrai and sports reporter for The Times, Molly Hudson. Representing the BBC were Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, Head of Content, Philip Bernie, and Executive Producer, Marc Vesty.
England Women’s Football Team
England were once again crowned European champions courtesy of a dramatic penalty shootout victory over World Cup winners Spain. Their stunning achievement made the Lionesses the first England team to win a major trophy on foreign soil. It’s fair to say they did it the hard way given they conceded first in all three of their knockout matches, and became the only side in Euros history to have three different matches go to extra time. But their never-say-die attitude, and some dramatic interventions off the bench, helped Sarina Wiegman’s squad become only the second country to retain a Euros title.
England Women’s Rugby Union Team
England won the Women’s World Cup in scintillating fashion, beating Canada 33-13 in front of a world record crowd of 81,885. It was the first time the Red Roses had lifted the trophy since 2014. In their quarter-final victory over Scotland, they broke their own world record for the longest unbeaten run by a women’s or men’s international rugby union side, and extended it to 33 without a loss in the final. Their last defeat came in the 2022 World Cup final. Earlier in the year, they won a fourth consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam and a seventh consecutive title.
European Ryder Cup Team
Europe held off a thrilling American resurgence to claim a Ryder Cup on US soil for only the fifth time, and their first since the legendary ‘Miracle of Medinah’ triumph in 2012. Luke Donald’s side ignored a hostile New York crowd at Bethpage Black to open up a record seven-point lead after two days, having dominated the foursomes and fourballs formats. They had to show nerve to survive a remarkable United States comeback on the final day, but secured a 15-13 win to make it back-to-back victories. The Europeans have now triumphed in six of the last eight Ryder Cups.
FE
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