Opta Analyst crowned Specialist Publisher of the Year at the SJA Awards

Stats Perform

~ 4 min read

Opta Analyst has been named Specialist Publisher of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards (SJA), marking a standout moment for data-driven storytelling in sport.

The SJA Awards, widely regarded as the industry’s highest honour, also saw further recognition for the wider Opta team. The Opta Content Agency secured Silver in the Content Agency of the Year category, while Ryan Benson was also awarded Silver for Data Journalist of the Year, underlining the depth of talent across the organisation.

Together, these accolades highlight a defining strength: the ability to turn world-class sports data into compelling, accessible storytelling that resonates with fans and helps partners and clients engage audiences more effectively at scale.

Opta Analyst named Specialist Publisher of the Year

Launched in 2021, Opta Analyst aimed to create a fan-facing digital destination that produced differentiated storytelling, thanks to unprecedented access to the numbers that make up the undercurrent of sport – Opta data.

Just over five years later, Opta Analyst has been recognised as the best Specialist Publisher in sports journalism:

Winner: Opta Analyst
Silver: City AM
Bronze: Telegraph Women’s Sport

Opta Analyst team on stage at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards

This award is a testament to a unique editorial model, where data, storytelling and creativity combine to produce something genuinely different and industry-leading content that not only informs fans but creates new opportunities for partners to connect with them.

The judges said…

“The Opta Analyst stands out for using data to genuinely explain football, turning complex analysis into something clear, engaging and actually useful for fans. With trusted tools, wide influence and a strong editorial identity, it’s helping shape how the game is understood across both the men’s and women’s game.”

The Opta Analyst turning data into stories: where it all began

Starting with the simple premise of turning stats into stories, Opta Analyst quickly became a go-to destination for sports fans across the globe.

And at the heart of the site was something simple. A desire to ensure that data-driven storytelling didn’t have to become an arduous task for readers to engage with.

Somewhere in the brief history of sports analytics, it had become all too common for data to be presented in an overbearing fashion, presented in an almost lecture like format.

Opta Analyst has helped create a fresh path towards understanding and contextualising the athletes, teams and leagues that their audience follows.

Whether it is the latest projections from the Opta supercomputer, a detailed look at an upcoming fixture or a more nuanced look at why a player will prove to be a success at their new club, this array of content has proven to resonate with fans, and now has achieved recognition as the industry leader in this regard.

Individual excellence in data journalism

We’re especially proud to see Opta Analyst’s Ryan Benson recognised in the Data Journalist of the Year category, among an outstanding field from The Athletic, The Times and ITV Sport.

Winner: Hamzah Khalique-Loonat (The Times & Sunday Times)
Silver: Ryan Benson (Opta Analyst)
Bronze: James Sharpe (Daily Mail)

Ryan’s work is a perfect example of what Opta Analyst stands for, making complex data meaningful, engaging and accessible to fans, while setting the standard for the kind of insight partners increasingly want to bring to their own audiences.

A standout year across three categories

Stats Perform’s Opta Content Agency received recognition in the highly competitive Content Agency of the Year category alongside leading names including PA Media, Sportsbeat and The Gold Studios.

Winner: Sportsbeat

Silver: Stats Perform (Opta Content Agency)

Bronze: Hayters

This recognition highlights the growing impact of the Opta Content Agency, delivering creative, data-led storytelling for some of the biggest names in sport.

For partners, it’s further proof of an approach that combines trusted data, editorial expertise and creative execution to deliver content that drives engagement across every platform.

Expanding the Opta story: the Opta Content Agency

Beyond Opta Analyst, the Opta Content Agency brings together a global team of creatives, editors and analysts to deliver data-driven storytelling at scale.

With journalists and content teams present at major sporting events around the world, the agency combines on-the-ground news gathering with deep data insight to produce content that is both immediate and authoritative.

Working across every major sport, the agency delivers:

Multi-platform content for broadcasters, brands and publishers
Video in all formats, created for every platform and audience
Live text commentary, editorial coverage and betting-focused content
Insight-led campaigns designed to engage global audiences
Bespoke content tailored to clients who want more for their audiences
Creative executions powered by Opta’s industry-leading data

From real-time match coverage and multilingual editorial output to long-form features, video and branded content, the Opta Content Agency blends storytelling and data to reach millions of fans every day.

Looking ahead

With the men’s FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the demand for always-on, high-quality sports content will only accelerate.

Fans expect deeper insight, faster updates and storytelling that brings them closer to the game before, during and after every moment.

There’s still time to build a content strategy that delivers.

Whether through Opta Analyst’s award-winning editorial storytelling or the Opta Content Agency’s global content production and bespoke campaigns, our teams are ready to help you create a 24/7 content ecosystem tailored to your audience.

From live coverage and data-led features to video, betting content and multi-language output reaching millions of fans every day, we can help you engage audiences at scale throughout the tournament and beyond.

Get in touch to start planning your FIFA World Cup 2026 content strategy.