‘Beth Mead has outdone me!’ - Mary Earps jokes about rivalry with Lionesses team-mate over BBC Sports Personality of the Year as Man Utd star discusses 2023 award

On the back of European Championship glory in 2022, Arsenal star Mead claimed the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize. Manchester United goalkeeper Earps is now a leading contender to take that trophy in 2023, with in-house competition added to the mix when it comes to superstar performers in the women’s game.

Earps has told the Daily Mail of being the odds-on favourite to add to her ever-growing honours collection: “It almost feels like if I don’t win it, Beth has outdone me! But of course it would be really lovely to win it. Everybody on the shortlist has achieved fantastic things in their respective sports, so I am really honoured and privileged to be named alongside them. It is the most prestigious all-round sporting award that you can win. It was really special to see my team-mate do it last year, so hopefully it will be another special night.”

Earps also savoured Euros glory with England and helped them to the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup – saving a penalty from Spain striker Jenni Hermoso in a Sydney showpiece that saw the Lionesses suffer an agonising 1-0 defeat. Earps added on that setback: “Whilst I am immensely proud of the girls getting to the World Cup final and coming away with a silver medal, there is always going to be that element of sadness around the fact it wasn’t gold. But that just puts more fire in the belly to go for gold next time.”

England have missed out on a place at the UEFA Nations League finals in 2024 – denying Team GB a spot at the Paris Olympic Games in the process – but they are already looking forward to the defence of a continental crown in 2025 and another shot at global glory in 2027.