Damien

She was one of the best players in an England team that got to a World Cup final. If this had been Olympic year or we had a winner in tennis, cricket, rugby or men's football she probably wouldn't have won but the Women's World Cup final was the most prominent sporting achievement from a national sporting point of view and she became the focal point of that team.

The final was also the most watched sporting event of this year. 12 million people. Add to that the increasing popularity of the women's game then you can see where the votes came from.