Women’s sport takes centre stage at The 25th Sport Industry Awards

Sarina Wiegman DBE and David Dein MBE were among the individuals recognised, while The FA’s Lionesses and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 also walked away as winners on the night.

The sport industry marked a major milestone as The 25th Sport Industry Awards returned to a sold-out Evolution London on Thursday 30th April, bringing together leading rights holders, brands, agencies, broadcasters and sporting talent for the biggest night in the industry calendar.

Hosted by broadcaster and Team GB athlete Jeanette Kwakye MBE alongside TV personality Mark Durden-Smith, the night began with a sincere speech from Sport Industry Awards founder and chairman Nick Keller that centred around the international influence of the UK sport sector and the importance of using sport for good. Meanwhile the ceremony celebrated standout work across events, campaigns, content, community impact, innovation and sustainability – with women’s sport taking centre stage across many of the night’s defining moments.

Lionesses’ manager Sarina Wiegman DBE received the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award in association with EY, recognising an era-defining impact on women’s football through sustained high performance, leadership and culture-building at the very top of the game. The Dutch manager was welcomed on stage by former England women’s team manager Hope Powell and Lioness legend Ellen White.

David Dein MBE was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by former Arsenal players Ian Wright and David Seaman, recognising a career that has helped shape the modern game on and off the pitch. A guiding influence in the formation of the Premier League and a leading figure at Arsenal across many years, Dein was also celebrated for his philanthropic work through The Twinning Project, which pairs prisons with professional football clubs to support education and rehabilitation programmes across the justice system.

It was also a big night for women’s sport as a whole, with standout successes across football, media and participation-driven work – reflecting the growing commercial strength, cultural relevance and creativity powering the sector forward.

Women’s football was further recognised as The Lionesses, the first England football team to win a major tournament away from home, claimed Sport Team of the Year in association with Freemans Event Partners, presented by Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh, while The FA also took home the Environmental Sustainability Award.

The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 enjoyed a landmark evening, winning Sports Programme of the Year and later being crowned Event of the Year in association with Marsh Sport – a double that reflected both the scale of ambition behind the tournament and the momentum of women’s rugby globally.

Across the main ceremony, Mastercard’s Style of Our Own won both the Fan Engagement Award in association with Personar and later the Purpose Driven Sponsorship Award – recognition for work that combined cultural insight with meaningful impact.

Elsewhere, The LEGO Group & Formula 1 won the Partnership Award in association with Yellow Panther, for a genuine partnership that benefited both parties equally, supported by headline grabbing activations and very strong results. Formula 1 was also named Sport Organisation of the Year in association with RPC, reflecting the sport’s continued evolution on and off the track.

In the Campaign of the Year category, London Sport’s More Ball Games was celebrated both for its creativity, and the impact that it’s had in driving lasting change in local communities.

Ear to the Ground was once again crowned Agency of the Year in association with Mad//Sports, having won previously in 2024. The judges were won over by the Manchester-based agencies ability to consistently deliver excellent creative work and commercial impact for a growing roster of clients. Meanwhile, Rocket Sports won Specialist Agency of the Year in association with Evolution London.

Red Bull’s takeover of Newcastle Falcons claimed Business Moment of the Year, the judging for which doubled up as a live recording for a highly entertaining episode of the Unofficial Partner podcast, while the inaugural Creative Moment of the Year, decided by a live industry vote, was won by Arsenal’s ‘Welcome Home, Ebere Eze’ campaign.

In the content and storytelling categories, CBS Sports Golazo picked up Best on Social in association with Thomas Lyte, with hosts Kate Scott and Jamie Carragher accepting the award, while Red Bull picked up the Sports Content of the Year in association with Canto, presented by The Sidemen’s Ethan Payne (Behzinga) and Tobi Brown (TBJZL). Ryder Cup Europe’s Una Familia was named Sports Documentary of the Year in association with Shutterstock.

The Rugby Pod was named Sports Podcast of the Year while Cole Palmer’s work with Beats by Dre won Talent Campaign of the Year in association with Alzheimer’s Society.

JUDGES’ AWARDS

• Lifetime Achievement Award: David Dein MBE
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award, in association with EY: Sarina Wiegman DBE

 MAIN CEREMONY

• Agency of the Year, in association with Mad//Sports: Ear to the Ground
• Best on Social, in association with Thomas Lyte: CBS Sports Golazo
• Business Moment of the Year: Red Bull’s takeover of Newcastle Falcons
• Campaign of the Year: London Sport – More Ball Games
• Creative Moment of the Year: Arsenal – Welcome Home, Ebere Eze
• Environmental Sustainability Award: The FA
• Event of the Year, in association with Marsh Sport: World Rugby – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
• Fan Engagement Award, in association with Personar: Mastercard – Style of Our Own
• Hospitality & Experience Award: Fulham FC
• Partnership Award, in association with Yellow Panther: The LEGO Group & Formula 1
• Purpose Driven Sponsorship Award: Mastercard – Style of Our Own
• Professional Services Team of the Year, in association with Heineken: Populous
• Specialist Agency of the Year, in association with Evolution London: Rocket Sports
• Sports Content of the Year, in association with Canto: Red Bull
• Sports Documentary of the Year, in association with Shutterstock: Ryder Cup Europe – Una Familia
• Sport Organisation of the Year, in association with RPC: Formula 1
• Sports Programme of the Year: Women’s Rugby World Cup2025
• Sports Podcast of the Year: The RugbyPod
• Sport Team of the Year, in association with Freemans Event Partners: The FA – Lionesses
• Talent Campaign of the Year, in association with Alzheimer’s Society: Beats by Dre
• Tech in Sport Award, in association with Sportradar: Crystal Palace FC
• Tessa Jowell Community Award, in association with Live.Team: Greenhouse Sports

KICK OFF AWARDS

• AI in Sport Award, in association with SI: Stats Perform & Cap Gemini
• Best Newcomer: Baller League
• Content Creator of the Year: Eman SV2
• Education Award, in association with BUCS: Multi-Ethnic Sports & Cultures NI
• Wellness in Sport Award: Park Yoga