In a major blow to the Jamaican women’s national football team, Reggae Girlz captain Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw will be sidelined from competitive football indefinitely due to injury, as confirmed by head coach Hubert Busby.
Shaw, who is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the women’s game, has been battling a persistent hamstring issue that will now prevent her from participating in upcoming fixtures.
Her absence is particularly significant given her remarkable performance for Manchester City in the 2024-2025 Women’s Super League (WSL) season. Despite being sidelined for nearly half of the season due to injury, the striker still managed to secure the Golden Boot award for the second consecutive year, netting a joint-league best 12 goals in just 14 appearances.
Her injury occurred during Manchester City’s League Cup defeat to Chelsea on March 15, a hamstring strain that has now ruled her out of action for the foreseeable future. The injury comes at a time when Manchester City finished 4th in the Women’s Super League, earning 43 points, just behind last season’s second-place finish.
While Shaw’s absence will be felt by both Manchester City and the Reggae Girlz, the national team remains focused on their upcoming fixtures, including an international friendly against the United States. This match, scheduled for June 3 in St. Louis at the Energisers Stadium, will mark the first meeting between the two teams since 2022.
Coach Busby, meanwhile, unveiled the squad for the upcoming friendly, featuring a mix of experienced players and fresh faces. The goalkeeper positions will be filled by Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks, and Serena Mensah, while defenders Chantelle Swaby, Konya Plummer, Naya Cardoza, Vyan Sampson, and Allyson Swaby will hold the fort at the back.
In midfield, the team will be bolstered by the talents of Nyema Ingleton, Amelia Van Zanten, Solai Washington, Atlanta Primus, Deniesha Blackwood, and Olufolasade Adamolekun. The attacking group of strikers includes Kayla McKenna, Reanna Blades, Kameron Simmonds, Shania Hayles, Shaniel Buckley, Kalyssa Van Zanten, and Jody Brown.
