Jamaican international, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, joined the Women’s Super League (WSL) team, Manchester City, in 2021. Since then, the striker has become the driving force behind City’s success and the WSL top scorer as well.

Leading scorer

Shaw, 27, is known by the nickname “Bunny” given to her for her love of carrots, She helped the club win two domestic cup trophies. City’s manager, Gareth Taylor, described the record-breaking performance of Shaw as “phenomenal” and noted he has built the team around the talented striker, putting her in the company of creative forward players like the England international Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly to make the most of her abilities. On March 23, 2024, Shaw became City’s all-time goal scorer with her 68th goal in 81 appearances.

Shaw at the top of the charts

Taylor’s approach has allowed Shaw to top the scorer charts, including making the only goal in City’s critical victory against Chelsea, which solidified the squad as a serious contender for the top trophy. Only three points separated Chelsea and Man City to date, and Shaw’s ability and high goal tallies are expected to be instrumental in any match-up. Observers are counting on Shaw’s “height, pace, precision, and intelligence” to bring City its desired result.

Already a star in Jamaica

Even before her achievements at Manchester, Shaw, who was born in 1997 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, had garnered attention as the record goal scorer for her home country. Shaw scored 55 goals for Jamaica’s national women’s team, the Reggae Girlz, and often wore the captain’s armband. In 2019, she helped the Reggae Girlz achieve their very first qualification for the Women’s World Cup, and in 2023, was instrumental in making Jamaica the first team from the Caribbean to progress to a World Cup knockout round.

Joined Reggae Girlz in protest

Shaw has not represented Jamaica since the 2023 World Cup, however, as she and her teammates withdrew from participation because they were dissatisfied with the leadership of the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) and their mistreatment of the female players. The women cited unpaid wages and bonuses, and a lack of professionalism by the JFF as reasons for their difficult decision to withdraw in hopes that their principled stance would spur the organization to improve the way it managed these matters.

Photo – Bunny Shaw