Sky's Jacquie Beltrao and Rob Harris take a look back at all of the major sporting stories of 2025

Key Concepts

• Lionesses’ Euro 2022 Victory: England’s women’s football team winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 against significant challenges.
• Serena Wiegman’s Coaching Impact: The influence of Serena Wiegman on both the England Lionesses and previously the Netherlands women’s team.
• Mental Health in Sport: The impact of social media abuse and difficult decisions on athletes’ mental wellbeing, exemplified by Jess Carter’s experience.
• Rise of Women’s Sport: Increased visibility, commercial interest, and scrutiny in women’s football and rugby.
• Ryder Cup Drama: The intense competition and political atmosphere surrounding the 2023 Ryder Cup.
• Luke Littler’s Darts Success: The rapid rise and impact of Luke Littler on the world of professional darts.
• 2026 FIFA World Cup: The expanded format and logistical challenges of the first 48-team World Cup hosted across three countries.
• Sports Politics & Inclusion: Ongoing debates surrounding Russian participation in sport and transgender athletes’ inclusion.

The Year in Sport: A Review of Key Moments and Developments

This discussion, featuring Sky News sports reporters, provides a detailed retrospective of the sporting year, focusing on key events, athlete stories, and emerging trends. The conversation highlights not only the triumphs but also the challenges and complexities within the sporting world.

I. The Lionesses’ Triumph and its Aftermath

The central narrative revolves around England’s Lionesses winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. The victory is described as improbable, marked by numerous “sliding doors moments” where elimination seemed imminent. Key players like Michan Jones (age 19) and Chloe Kelly were instrumental, with Kelly’s journey from questioning her future in football to scoring the winning goal being particularly highlighted.

A humorous anecdote details a senior journalist struggling to pronounce Michan Jones’ name, underscoring her sudden emergence as a star. The post-match celebrations were contrasted with the emotional experience of Jess Carter, who received overwhelming support from fans after enduring horrific racist abuse on social media. Carter revealed the abuse nearly drove her to quit football, emphasizing the importance of fan support and mental wellbeing. She was unable to attend the victory parade due to club commitments in the US.

The discussion then shifts to Serena Wiegman’s leadership, noting her back-to-back title wins (Euro 2022 with England, 2017 with the Netherlands), establishing her as a “superstar coach.” A controversial pre-tournament decision to replace Mary Earps as goalkeeper with Hannah Hampton is discussed, referencing the backlash Wiegman faced and Earps’ honest account in her book about the impact on her mental health. The conversation highlights the importance of clarity for athletes and the potential for such situations to affect self-worth.

II. The Growing Spotlight on Women’s Sport

The Lionesses’ success is framed as a catalyst for the increased attention and scrutiny surrounding women’s football. The debate surrounding Mary Earps’ demotion and the subsequent book release demonstrate a new level of analysis and public engagement. This increased visibility brings both positive attention and challenging conversations. The discussion also touches upon the sold-out Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham, with the Red Roses’ victory and the emergence of a fan tradition of wearing cowgirl hats inspired by Ellie Kildun. The commercial impact of this success, including Ellie Kildun receiving her own Barbie doll, is noted.

III. Ryder Cup Drama and Rory McIlroy’s Journey

The 2023 Ryder Cup is described as a highly charged event, marked by a “bitter atmosphere” and intense rivalry between Europe and the United States. Rory McIlroy’s performance and emotional response are highlighted, particularly his victory after 11 years of failing to complete the career grand slam. His vulnerability and resilience are emphasized, contrasting with his occasional “brittleness” under pressure. The discussion also notes the political undertones of the event, with the presence of Donald Trump adding to the spectacle.

IV. Unexpected Tragedies and Resilience

The conversation takes a somber turn with the discussion of the tragic death of Portuguese footballer Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash. The reporters recount their experience covering the funeral in Portugal and the profound impact of the loss on the Liverpool team. This segment underscores the importance of mental health support within sports teams and the broader societal conversation surrounding grief.

V. Darts, Football, and Emerging Stories

The remarkable rise of Luke Littler in the world of professional darts is celebrated. His overnight success, financial gains, and newfound confidence are detailed, including his humorous admission that he could improve if he practiced more.

The discussion also briefly covers Lando Norris’s Formula 1 victory, the Crystal Palace FA Cup win, and Arsenal Women’s Champions League triumph. The incident in Liverpool following the Premier League parade, where a car drove through crowds, is recounted, highlighting the potential for joy to turn to trauma.

The story of the Afghanistan Women’s Football Team, forced to flee the Taliban and rebuild their team with FIFA’s support, is presented as a powerful example of resilience and the pursuit of dreams. FIFA’s efforts to support the team are contrasted with the lack of similar support for women’s cricket in Afghanistan.

VI. Looking Ahead: 2026 World Cup and Ongoing Debates

The conversation concludes by looking ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, emphasizing its expanded format (48 teams) and the logistical challenges of hosting it across three countries (Mexico, Canada, and the United States). The pressure on England manager Gareth Southgate to deliver a World Cup victory is acknowledged.

Finally, the discussion touches upon ongoing debates in sports politics, including the potential return of Russian teams to competition and the International Olympic Committee’s consideration of banning transgender women and athletes with differences of sex development from women’s sport.

Notable Quotes:

• Jess Carter: “The support that I felt from the fans has been incredible. And like I I can't thank them enough because honestly without the fans, my family, my teammates, like I'm not sure that I'd have had the courage to go back on the pitch and and play again.”
• Serena Wiegman (via reporter’s account): “If Burner Boy comes, then of course, well, I was very uh flabbergasted, but I thought I'm going to take my moment with him, so let's have a little dance with him.”
• Luke Littler: “If I put if I put the practice in then I probably could get better, but at the minute I'm happy with with how I'm doing.”
• Former teammate on Jota: “The first thought is, wow, it's this can be real… just got married, just got the Premier League, the Nations League. It was shocking.”

This year in sport was marked by both incredible achievements and profound challenges, demonstrating the power of sport to inspire, unite, and provoke important conversations.