Manchester City striker Khadija “Bunny’ Shaw has been crowned the 2026 Women’s Player of the Year at the prestigious Women’s Football Awards. This marks the second time the Jamaican international has taken home the top honor, solidifying her status as the most dominant force in the English game.
A Historic Return to the Top
After narrowly missing out on the top individual prizes in 2025 to Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, Shaw left no room for debate during the 2025/26 campaign. Her clinical finishing and physical presence spearheaded Manchester City’s charge to their first Women’s Super League (WSL) title in a decade. The award, presented on May 7, 2026, celebrates a season in which Shaw wasn’t just a goalscorer, but the tactical engine of City’s front line.
Record-Breaking Season Highlights
Shaw’s 2025/26 season was defined by a series of “firsts” and “fastests” that will live long in the record books:
- The 100-Goal Milestone: In December 2025, Shaw became the first woman in Manchester City history to score 100 goals for the club, reaching the century mark in record time.
- The Blitz Hat-Trick: On March 21, 2026, she stunned fans by scoring the fastest hat-trick in WSL history against Tottenham. All three goals—remarkably all headers—were scored in a span of just 12 minutes and 37 seconds.
- League Dominance: She finished the season with 19 league goals, narrowly beating out teammate Lauren Hemp and Chelsea’s Mayra Ramírez for the Golden Boot.
Restoring City to Glory
While individual accolades have followed Shaw throughout her career—including a sweep of the PFA and FWA awards in 2024—this year’s Player of the Year title is considered particularly special due to the team’s success.
“Individual awards are beautiful, but they mean more when you have a trophy to lift with your teammates,” Shaw said during her acceptance speech. Under the management of Gareth Taylor, Shaw’s partnership with Mary Fowler and Lauren Hemp became the most feared attacking trio in Europe, ultimately dethroning Chelsea after their long-standing domestic reign.
The Night’s Other Big Winners
Shaw wasn’t the only star celebrated at the London ceremony. Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier took home the Player’s Player of the Year award for her defensive leadership, while City’s rising star Khiara Keating was named Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in three years.
As Shaw prepares for the upcoming international window with Jamaica, her legacy in the WSL is already cemented as one of the greatest strikers to ever grace the league.
