Breaking barriers: Bunny Shaw’s rise in women’s football
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is not just redefining what success looks like for Jamaican or black women in football, she's showing that talent, determination, and belief can take you anywhere.
The Manchester City forward is in the prime of her career, clinical in front of goal and driving City towards silverware at the end of the season. However, she plays more than the role of just a footballer; she is role model and example to the next generations of aspiring young, black footballers.
Her journey is proof that representation matters and that the next generation of young girls from Kingston to London can dream even bigger because of her.
Professional career highlights
Shaw played for Florida Kraze Krush Soccer Club in 2018 before joining FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 2019, where she scored twice on her debut and went on to score 32 goals across two seasons. She earned two Division 1 Féminine Player of the Month awards, a place in the 2020/21 Team of the Year, and nominations for both major Player of the Season honours. She joined Manchester City in June 2021, initially serving as backup to Ellen White but still finishing her debut season with 16 goals and a League Cup title.
The following year, Shaw became City's first-choice striker, breaking the club's single-season scoring record, winning CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football.) Female Player of the Year and being named City's Player of the Season. She dominated again in 2023/24, becoming City's all-time top scorer and winning the WSL Golden Boot, FWA Women's Footballer of the Year, and PFA Player of the Year.
In 2024-25, she broke the WSL record for most hat-tricks, led City in Champions League scoring, and retained the Golden Boot despite injuries. She continued her strong form into 2025-26, scoring early in the campaign and netting twice in a 4-1 win over the London City Lionesses.
Off the pitch - personality, activism, and legacy
Shaw embodies a quiet power- humble in nature, focused on purpose, and fiercely determined. Rising from Spanish Town, Jamaica, to become a global star with Manchester City, she represents black excellence and Caribbean pride. Despite her success, Shaw remains grounded, using her platform to inspire young players from underrepresented backgrounds:
"I was supposed to stay in Jamaica and get a regular 9-5 job."
Her journey proves that talent can emerge from anywhere, motivating investment in women's football, particularly in regions like the Caribbean, where opportunities are limited.
Shaw's achievement shows what's possible when girls are giving support and belief. As she puts it:
"I will always keep encouraging and inspiring, because it is not impossible."
Representation and impact as a black woman in football:
Shaw’s journey from Spanish Town, Jamaica, to global stardom, embodying black achievement, Caribbean pride, and female empowerment. Defying limited opportunities for girls in sport, she became a role model for young women worldwide:
“There was a clear expectation that I would remain in Jamaica and enter a standard mime-to-five profession. But the opportunity wasn't there."
Now a Manchester City star, Shaw's visibility inspires the next generation of Caribbean players. Her journey challenges the barriers faced by black women in football from lack of resources to underrepresentation, proving that success is possible through talent and determination. As she puts it:
“I want to keep motivating people, demonstrating that what appears impossible can be possible”.