Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Khadija Shaw scored 21 goals in 22 matches in the WSL this season
ByEmma SandersBBC Sport women’s football news reporter- Published10 minutes ago
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has been named WSL Football's Player of the Season after an impressive campaign in the Women's Super League.
The 29-year-old also won the Golden Boot for a third successive season after scoring 21 goals in 22 appearances as City claimed a first WSL title in a decade.
She won the Football Writers' Association Women's Footballer of the Year award earlier in May and was named City's Player of the Season on Sunday.
Known affectionately as 'Bunny', she has dominated headlines after contract renewal discussions broke down with her current deal set to run out in June.
WSL rivals Chelsea are favourites to sign Shaw on a free deal in the summer amid heavy interest from clubs around the world.
During City's homecoming celebrations at Manchester's Albert Hall on Sunday, fans chanted "we want Bunny to stay".
Shaw, who arrived at City in 2021, has finished as the club's top scorer in four of her five seasons there and holds the record for the most hat-tricks in the WSL (six).
Some of Shaw's best performances this season included a hat-trick against Tottenham and a four-goal haul at home to Aston Villa, as well as scoring an important opener in the 3-2 win over Arsenal in October.
The Jamaica international could help City snatch a domestic double if they beat Brighton in the Women's FA Cup final on Sunday, 31 May (15:00 BST).
Shaw beat team-mate Kerstin Casparij, Arsenal forward Alessia Russo and Aston Villa winger Kirsty Hanson to the award.
England international Russo netted 13 goals in 22 matches, playing as both a striker and a midfielder, while Hanson finished third in the goalscoring charts behind Shaw and Russo with 12 goals.
Also shortlisted for the main award were Manchester United's Jess Park, Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson, Tottenham's Olivia Holdt and Everton's Ruby Mace.
Why Man City would be foolish to let Shaw leave
- Published10 May
Inside Man City's WSL title-winning season
- Published6 May
Stories, scheduling & spectacle - five takeaways from 2025-26 WSL
- Published14 hours ago
Who were the other award winners?
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
This video can not be played
Figure caption,The goals that helped crown Manchester City as Women's Super League champions
Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton earned the Golden Glove trophy, having kept eight clean sheets in 19 appearances.
She finished above Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce - who was recognised for her conservation work - and Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita (seven clean sheets each).
Elsewhere, Aston Villa forward Hanson’s strike against West Ham in October‘s 2-0 victory was named WSL Goal of the Season, while Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman picked up the Rising Star award.
After Birmingham City were crowned WSL 2 champions on the final day of the season, Lily Crosthwaite was awarded best player of the division, while 22-year-old Neve Herron won the second-tier’s Rising Star award.
Bristol City's Lexi Lloyd-Smith picked up the WSL 2 Golden Boot after scoring 11 goals in 21 games to help Charlotte Healy's side to a fourth-place finish.
Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse won the Golden Glove with eight clean sheets, contributing to a 27-game unbeaten run as her side finished third to take on Leicester City in a play-off match for promotion to the WSL next season.
The WSL's bottom club Leicester City will travel to Charlton on Saturday (12:30 BST) in the hope of retaining their top-tier status.
The ceremony in London also celebrated the induction of Casey Stoney, Kerys Harrop and Matt Beard, who died in September, into the WSL Hall of Fame.
How do Chelsea rebuild for next season's WSL?
- Published6 days ago
Why Arsenal have fallen short in WSL and Champions League this season
- Published4 days ago
How will Tottenham build on successful WSL season?
- Published3 days ago
Full award winners
WSL Player of the Season: Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
WSL Golden Boot: Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
WSL Rising Star: Veerle Buurman (Chelsea)
WSL Golden Glove: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
WSL Goal of the Season: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)
WSL Save of the Season: Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal)
WSL 2 Player of the Season: Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City)
WSL 2 Golden Boot winner: Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City)
WSL 2 Rising Star: Neve Herron (Birmingham City)
WSL 2 Golden Glove winner: Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
WSL 2 Goal of the Season: Amy Andrews (Sheffield United)
WSL 2 Save of the Season: Shae Yanez (Crystal Palace)
Fan of the Year: Jo Davis (Brighton)
Club Hero Award: Heather Carroll (Liverpool)
Player Champion of Change: Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are here for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed
