Mary Earps Wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023

England's Goalkeeper Recognized for On-Pitch Performance and Off-Pitch Advocacy Despite World Cup Loss

Mary Earps, England's goalkeeper, has been named the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year for 2023, becoming the second women's footballer to win the award in as many years after Beth Mead in 2022.
Earps was the standout player as England reached their first Women's World Cup final, where she saved a penalty but England lost 1-0 to Spain.
She was awarded the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament, conceding only four goals and keeping three clean sheets.
Off the pitch, Earps successfully campaigned for her England goalkeeper shirts to be put on public sale, after Nike had initially refused to do so during the World Cup.
Despite the recognition, some critics argue that Earps's award is undeserved as England did not win the World Cup and she is most celebrated for saving a Spanish penalty in the final in a losing cause.