Lionesses heroes' odds slashed for SPOTY - but they're still not the favourite - Daily Star

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Lionesses heroes Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton have seen their odds slashed to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

England won their second European Championship title in a row on Sunday after beating Spain in a penalty shootout. Three years on from scoring the winning goal against Germany at Wembley, Kelly stepped up from the spot to score the winning penalty after Hampton had made two saves earlier in the shootout.

After England made it to the World Cup final in 2023, where they were beaten by Spain, goalkeeper Mary Earps was named SPOTY.

Earps won the award over Stuart Broad, who helped England secure an Ashes series draw against Australia in his final test and ended his career as England's second all-time wicket taker and fifth in the career all-time list.

Meanwhile, Katarina Johnson-Thompson came third after she regained the World Champion title in Budapest, including securing two personal bests in the javelin and 800m.

Earps also pipped Frankie Dettori, after the legendary jockey rode multiple major wins in his final racing year in Britain. Wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett, who won the Australian Open and US Open, and narrowly missed out on the Wimbledon title.

And Rory McIlroy, after winning four of his five matches to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup, as well as winning the Scottish Open and Race to Dubai alongside three top ten finishes in the majors.

But according to the latest odds, the Lionesses duo are not favourites to land the SPOTY. Kelly is 7/4 and Hampton 7/1. Before a ball was kicked on Sunday night, Kelly was 12/1 and Hampton was 33/1.

That's because McIlroy leads the way at a surprisingly high odds of 6/4 after winning the Masters in April. The 36-year-old completed his career Grand Slam 11 years after winning his last major.

The Northern Irishman came runner-up to F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2014 after winning two majors.

Kelly's bid is backed considerably more by the bookmakers after the 27-year-old lifted the Champions League with Arsenal earlier this year.

The winger feared her England dreams were fading as she battled with form and playing time at Manchester City before returning to Arsenal on loan in January, making her move permanent in July.

She said: "If that's a story to tell someone maybe experiencing something the same - tough times don't last. Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that, and now a Euros final, won that."

Kelly continued to praise her manager, Sarina Wiegman, saying: "She gave me hope when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again."

Meanwhile, Hampton was the focus of attention leading into the tournament after stepping up as England's first choice goalkeeper following Mary Earps' retirement from international football five weeks earlier.

But the 2023 SPOTY winner was not missed between the sticks as the 24-year-old was outstanding in both penalty shootout victories against Spain and Sweden in the quarter-final.

Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said on commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Hannah Hampton has been put in the spotlight. Has she stood up, has she stood tall? The biggest of big.

"To win your team back-to-back European Championships - be proud Hannah Hampton."