BBC Reveals Shortlist for 2025 Sports Personality Team of the Year Award
Last updated: December 16, 2025
The BBC has officially revealed the shortlist for the 2025 Sports Personality Team of the Year Award, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated moments of the annual SPOTY ceremony. Three teams have been nominated after delivering standout achievements over the past year, each leaving a clear mark on their respective sports. The shortlisted teams are the England Lionesses, the Red Roses, and Europe’s Ryder Cup team, with the winner set to be decided by a live public vote during the awards show later this year.
The England Lionesses are nominated after successfully defending their European Championship title, a campaign defined by pressure, resilience, and composure at crucial moments. Their triumph, sealed in dramatic fashion, reinforced their status as one of the most consistent international sides in the game.
The Red Roses earned their place on the list by winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil, delivering a dominant tournament performance that culminated in victory at a packed Twickenham. Europe’s Ryder Cup team complete the shortlist following a memorable win in the United States, where they retained the trophy against strong opposition in a contest that demanded tactical discipline and collective belief.
Beyond the achievements themselves, the announcement has sparked widespread discussion about how fans now engage with major sporting moments. Across the UK and Europe, interest in awards like SPOTY reflects a broader appetite for following sport as an ongoing narrative rather than isolated events. At many online platforms, attention often shifts quickly from results to broader season stories, long-term rivalries, and future expectations. This environment has also contributed to growing interest among the best crypto sports betting sites, which appeal to users looking for better privacy, faster transactions, wider international markets, and access that is not tied to traditional banking systems.
These platforms have gained traction because they prioritise flexibility and speed. Many users value the ability to move funds quickly, access global competitions, and view detailed markets without unnecessary barriers. The appeal is not limited to one sport. Football, rugby, golf, and international tournaments all benefit from this wider digital engagement. As fans follow teams like the Lionesses or Europe’s Ryder Cup side across long campaigns, the availability of real-time information and clear interfaces has become an expected part of the experience. The decision to allow public voting may directly benefit teams like the Lioness once the votes are in.
That wider digital engagement feeds directly back into events like the Sports Personality awards. Voting live on the night allows supporters to feel involved in the outcome, rather than simply observing from a distance. It turns the Team of the Year award into a shared decision, shaped by public perception as much as by medals and trophies. This sense of participation mirrors how supporters now interact with sport across the season, following form swings, setbacks, and defining moments in real time.
Each shortlisted team offers a different kind of sporting story. The Lionesses represent consistency and composure under pressure, building on success rather than being defined by a single run. The Red Roses embody dominance and occasion, delivering when expectations were at their highest in front of a home crowd. Europe’s Ryder Cup win highlights the power of collective effort, where individual brilliance is secondary to unity and strategy across several intense days of competition.
The BBC has confirmed that the Team of the Year winner will be announced live during the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, with viewers invited to cast their votes during the broadcast. That live element adds tension and excitement, as outcomes are decided in the moment rather than in advance. It also reflects how modern sports audiences prefer immediacy and involvement.
As anticipation builds towards the ceremony, debate is likely to intensify around which team deserves the honour most. Each nominee has delivered success on a scale that resonates beyond their sport, capturing attention and admiration across the country. The 2025 shortlist underlines the continued importance of teamwork in elite competition and ensures that the Team of the Year award remains one of the most meaningful accolades on the UK sporting calendar.
