Is it really about her performance or does she just represent the collective group that has increased girls' participation in the world biggest and greatest game?

It was a limited public vote, let's think about it.
A- Women footballer with 1000's of young girls starting to play with all that youthfull enthusiasm
B- An unbelievable (female) athlete, but its a niche sport not in an Olympic year
C- A disabled athlete
D- A jockey in his 50's
E- A golfer who barely visits these shores and didn't bother with any of the promotional faff
F- A cricketer who didn't regain the ashes, as if the "barmy army" would do anything as crass as vote in SPOTY.

Its a popularity contest. No one likes Citeh so mens football is out. The Tennis players haven't done anything. Its not an Olympic year.The dutch have F1 sawn up and boxing is a mess and behind massive paywalls.

Anyway Bellingham next year, so it will calm the old lads down