Manchester City striker Khadija ’Bunny’ Shaw has been named as CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year for 2022.
Shaw, 26, saw off competition from Alex Morgan, Jessie Fleming, Melchie Dumornay, Sophia Smith and Alicia Cervantes to win the trophy, coming out on top after the voting concluded last month.
The Jamaica international had previously been runner up to USA striker Morgan in 2018 for the accolade which celebrates the best of the game in both men’s and women’s football in North America.
This season Shaw has broken the record for the most goals in a single season by a women’s player at City – with her current tally standing at 29 strikes in 27 appearances in all competitions so far during the 2022/23 campaign.
Shaw has already won a number of Player of the Month awards this term and has been instrumental in the Reggae Girlz’ qualification for a second successive World Cup, helping guide Jamaica to a third-placed finish at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Speaking about the award, Shaw said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be named as CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates as they’ve played a massive part in this.
“It’s going to go somewhere special so that whenever I wake up, I can look at it straight away!
“The message I have to anybody who has a dream like I did is to keep believing and enjoy the process and journey.
“The journey is ultimately what is going to get you to your destination, so just work hard every day knowing where you want to get to, and no matter what obstacles come your way, you need to keep believing in yourself and doing your best.
“Keep pushing, enjoy the journey and the moment, because there is something great that will come of your hard work in the end.”