Jess Anderson
BBC Sport netball reporter

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England have begun their build-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games where they will hope to improve on their effort four years ago having failed to win a medal in Birmingham.

The Roses began the year by winning a maiden Nations Cup title - beating Malawi and Uganda then defeating South Africa in the final.

They have closed it out by losing a three-match series to New Zealand before winning two matches against a depleted Jamaica side and will take on South Africa in January in their last scheduled fixtures before the Glasgow Games in August.

It leaves questions over where England are at heading into one of their pinnacle tournaments but Roses head coach Jess Thirlby will be pleased to have welcomed shooter Eleanor Cardwell, out for a lengthy period with injury, and mid-courter Natalie Metcalf, who returned to court seven months after giving birth to her first baby, back to the fold in recent weeks.

In the domestic season, London Pulse won a maiden Netball Super League title, denying Loughborough Lightning an unprecedented three-peat in the final in July.

Meanwhile, England legend Geva Mentor called time on her club career, which has included over 310 games spanning two-and-a-half decades.

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This is what England rugby star and Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne had to say when speaking to Gabby Logan about her remarkable 2025.

On her approach to rugby: "I'm so scared of getting tackled, so I run around people to try and avoid it most of the time. But I also love the freedom to see what is in front of me, have the belief of my team-mates and coaches around me and just go after it full-throttle."

On the concussion she suffered in the World Cup: "It was the first time I have been concussed, to be honest. I didn't really know what it meant. It's a boring life if it's all good stuff, something needs to happen to keep people reading!"

On how her life has changed in 2025: "I'm really busy! I could do with going home for a little but, which I've got over Christmas and I'm looking forward to. I want to thank everyone who came to the World Cup and made it so special."

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Armand Duplantis' clearance over 6.30m was his fourth world record of 2025 - the most number of times he has improved the mark during a single year in his career.

The 26-year-old jumped 6.27m in Clermont-Ferrand in February before improving his record by a further centimetre in Stockholm in June, and again in Budapest in August.

The two-time Olympic champion has now claimed the past eight global men's pole vault gold medals on offer across both indoor and outdoor competitions.

Duplantis surpassed a record-extending 100 career clearances over six metres in winning his third world indoor title in March.

That's a height that has been cleared by just 28 other people throughout history.

His latest global triumph in Japan extended his unbeaten streak to 37 competitions, a streak of dominance stretching back to July 2023.

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You voted Swedish pole vault star Armand Duplantis as your World Sports Star of the Year for a second consecutive time!

Duplantis - better known as 'Mondo' - won a third consecutive world title in September and improved his world record to 6.30m.

The voting for Sports Personality of the Year is now frozen!

The top three in the voting will now be calculated and you'll find out who will remain in the running for the award very soon.

First up, though, we've got another award to hand out.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport NFL reporter

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2025 could be remembered as the end of an era in the NFL as the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty crumbled.

Firstly, their bid for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl win was dashed by the Philadelphia Eagles in last season’s title decider in February.

Then last Sunday the Chiefs were eliminated from contention for this season’s play-offs, meaning they will not feature in the post-season for the first time in 11 years.

Patrick Mahomes has suffered his first major injury while Travis Kelce could be set to retire, so the race for Super Bowl 60 feels like a changing of the guard.

Josh Allen was last season’s Most Valuable Player and his Buffalo Bills team will again aim to step into Kansas City’s throne, with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos set to be among the leading contenders.

Mike Whalley
BBC Sport rugby league reporter

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Rugby league's biggest superstar? For years, it's been Nathan Cleary. But Reece Walsh was the player everyone wanted to see as Australia came to England in October for a first men's Rugby League Ashes series in 22 years.

Fresh from leading Brisbane Broncos to their first NRL title in 19 years, full-back Walsh picked up four tries, one man-of-the-match award, a sin-binning and a few new English admirers as the Kangaroos earned a 3-0 series win - cementing their status as favourites for next year's World Cup.

Walsh returns in February with the Broncos to see if he can inflict similar damage in the World Club Challenge on Treble-winning Hull KR, who enjoyed an extraordinary 2025. Mikey Lewis, magnificent as Wigan were beaten in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, might feel he has a point to prove after being part of England's autumn disappointment.

England's women might still be recovering from the shock of their 90-4 hammering by Australia in Las Vegas in March, but a 62-0 win over Wales in August was a professional response. All three teams are in the same group for next year's World Cup, where Stuart Barrow's players will have their eye on a semi-final spot. History was made at domestic level: Wigan became the first club in the English women's game to win the Treble.

While Australia are the leading candidates to win the men's and women's World Cups on home turf, England have high hopes of retaining their wheelchair title. Tom Coyd's side bucked the 2025 Ashes trend by winning their series down under. Maybe this time next year, we'll all be talking about Coydball.

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"We hope we have inspired young girls to go and pick up a ball - any kind of ball, any kind of sport - and do whatever they want to in the world, because if you dream big enough you can get it."

England rugby union captain Zoe Aldcroft after their victory at the Women's World Cup.

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Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport rugby union reporter

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In front of a record women’s rugby crowd of 81,885, England comfortably defeated Canada at Twickenham in September to become world champions for the third time.

As previous back-to-back Women’s Rugby World Cup final defeats by New Zealand showed, success on the biggest stage is never guaranteed.

The pre-tournament star also does not always deliver, but this was not the case for Ellie Kildunne, who capped an impressive World Cup campaign with a sensational solo try in the final.

Completing an entire World Cup cycle without defeat places this England side, who are on a record 33-game winning run, among the great sporting teams.

Gloucester-Hartpury won their third consecutive Premiership Women’s Rugby title in March, as England’s PWR continues to grow in strength, with 130 World Cup players registered in October.

Is Ellie Kildunne your BBC Sports Personality of the Year?

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Ellie Kildunne was forced to miss England's World Cup quarter-final after sustaining a concussion, but the full-back returned with gusto to help secure England's triumph on home soil.

The 26-year-old scored two tries for the Red Roses against France in the semi-finals, before scoring five times in the final against Canada - including a dazzling solo try in front of 80,000 fans.

Earlier in the year, she scored four tries as England once again recorded a Grand Slam as they retained their Women's Six Nations title.

At club level, she scored 14 tries for Harlequins during the 2024-25 season.

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Ellie Kildunne played a crucial role for England in their Women's Rugby World Cup triumph on home soil.

We've heard from five of our six contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.

From European glory for the Lionesses, to a World Cup triumph for the Red Roses.

England goalkeeper and Sports Personality of the Year nominee Hannah Hampton speaking to Alex Scott about her Euro winning year: "It’s been a lovely but challenging year. Losing my Grandpa on the eve of the tournament was hard. We wanted the dream together so I went out there to try and make him proud. I carried him with me in every minute of those games."

On being named as the world's best goalkeeper: "It’s lovely. It’s nice for the keepers to be recognised now. Anything I’ve achieved has been down to my parents pushing me and all the coaches I’ve had. They’ve really pushed me and kept me going. They made me realise my dreams that have become reality."

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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It was the year history was made in the two domestic cup competitions as Newcastle United won The Carabao Cup, their first silverware for 56 years by beating Liverpool in the final at Wembley, while Crystal Palace lifted their first major trophy with victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final.

Liverpool more than made amends for that loss by winning the Premier League, their 20th title, a remarkable achievement for head coach Arne Slot in his first season after succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

What was meant to be a summer of celebration turned to tragedy, however, when much-loved striker Diogo Jota was killed in a car crash in July.

The European scene was dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, who saw off the Premier League elite by beating Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to win the Champions League, confirming their development into a magnificent side under coach Luis Enrique by thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

The Club World Cup was a new innovation, and it was Chelsea who won it by beating PSG 3-0 in the final, with Enzo Maresca also leading his side to triumph in the Europa Conference League.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel started his new job on 1 January and guided them to next summer’s World Cup with a flawless qualifying campaign, winning eight games out of eight, scoring 22 goals and conceding none.

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Speaking to Gabby Logan in the studio, Arsenal and England forward Chloe Kelly, who celebrated triumphs in the Champions League and at Euro 2025, said: "I think staying ready for the moment, staying ready for an opportunity when called upon.

"Representing your country is never a given, so when you have that opportunity, take it with both hands and make the most of it.

"To score goals at Wembley and play for your country is a huge honour."

Is Hannah Hampton your BBC Sports Personality of the Year?

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Hannah Hampton's heroics helped England win the European Championship final, as she saved two spot-kicks in the penalty shootout.

That followed a string of commanding performances which included another two shootout saves in the quarter-finals.

The 25-year-old was named player of the match in the final, and was included in the Euro 2025 team of the tournament.

At club level, Hampton played a key role in Chelsea's domestic treble and was the joint winner of the WSL's Golden Glove award with 13 clean sheets in 22 games.

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Hannah Hampton's spectacular 2025 culminated in her winning the Yashin Trophy, which is presented to the world's best female goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards.