Khadija Shaw has done it again. The Manchester City and Jamaica forward has been named the PFA Women's Player of the Year for 2026, picking up the prize for the second time in three seasons and cementing her place as the standout performer in the Women's Super League.

Shaw — known throughout the game as 'Bunny' — reacted to the news with characteristic warmth, saying she felt 'truly honoured' to receive the recognition from her fellow professionals. A vote by peers carries its own weight, and this one reflects a season in which the Jamaican international has again been impossible to ignore.

A Second Honour in Three Years

The award marks Shaw's second PFA accolade of this kind, a feat that places her in elite company in the women's game in England. Winning it once is a statement; winning it twice in three campaigns is something else entirely — a signal that she is not merely a flash of brilliance but a sustained force at the top level of domestic football.

City have had a fine WSL season, with Shaw central to everything productive going forward. The noises out of the Etihad have been consistently positive about her contribution, and the club recently celebrated WSL title success — a fitting backdrop for one of their most important players collecting individual recognition.

PFA Awards Night Sees Double Celebration

Shaw was not the only City-connected name in the frame on the night. The PFA awards also saw Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United take the men's Player of the Year prize, while the young player awards brought further recognition across both the men's and women's game. It was a busy evening for the professional game's union, with several players stepping up to receive their honours.

Shaw's trophy, though, carries a particular resonance. For a player who has consistently led from the front — in the WSL's top scorer conversations, in big European nights, in the relentless grind of a title race — this is the game's domestic professionals saying: yes, you are the best of us.

What This Means for the WSL

The award also speaks to the broader health of the Women's Super League as a competition. When the same player can dominate across multiple seasons and still be chosen by a vote of her peers, it reflects the standards she is consistently hitting rather than any shortage of quality around her. The WSL has grown sharply in profile and talent depth, which makes Shaw's back-to-back-era dominance all the more striking.

At 27, there is every reason to believe she has further peaks ahead of her. Whether City can build on their WSL success in the season to come — and keep Shaw at the heart of it — will be one of the more compelling storylines heading into the next campaign.

For now, though, the recognition is hers. Truly honoured, she says. The feeling, for those watching her play, is entirely mutual.

FAQs

Frequently asked

How many times has Khadija Shaw won the PFA Women's Player of the Year?
Shaw has now won the PFA Women's Player of the Year award twice, claiming the prize for the second time in three seasons in 2026.
Who won the PFA Men's Player of the Year 2026?
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United won the PFA Men's Player of the Year award at the same ceremony.
What club does Khadija Shaw play for?
Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw plays as a forward for Manchester City in the Women's Super League and represents Jamaica internationally.