Okay, it’s a little early for this, but as I just started a thread for Time’s Person of the Year, I thought I would start this one as well.
Normally, the choice would be obvious - one or more persons representing the New York Knicks (I would give it to the fans, who have had to wait over 50 years for a title).
However, SI gave it to an NBA player last year, and it has never given it to the same pro sport two years in a row, except when you include things like “Athletes Who Care.” In fact, the only time two consecutive years had someone from the same sport win (counting pro and college versions of a sport differently) was for track and field, with Mary Decker in 1983 and Edwin Moses in 1984.
There is also the possibility that, somehow, the Dodgers win their third World Series in a row, in which case, they’re running out of reasons not to give it to Shohei Ohtani.
Speaking of “running out of reasons,” if the Aces win another WNBA title, they have to consider A’ja Wilson.