CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year Nominee: Reggae Girl Khadija Shaw

When it comes to trailblazing and women’s soccer in the Caribbean, everything starts with Jamaica, who are led by talismanic striker Khadija Shaw, according to CONCACAF.

“The 31-year-old is a mainstay when it comes to top distinctions and honors in CONCACAF, and another superb year in 2022 has placed her among the nominees for the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year,” said CONCACAF in a statement on Friday.

The runner-up for the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year, when Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to ever qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup, CONCACAF said Shaw played “a huge role in helping her country qualify for their second straight Women’s World Cup, leading the Reggae Girlz to a Third-Place finish at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which punched their ticket to Australia/New Zealand.”

In the tournament, CONCACAF said Shaw scored three goals, including the game-winning score in the opening 1-0 win versus Mexico and a brace in the 4-0 victory against Haiti, which sealed Jamaica’s Women’s World Cup qualification.

For her efforts, Shaw was named to the 2022 CWC Best XI, CONCACAF said.

It said Shaw was “just as lethal” in CWC Qualifying, amassing nine goals to help Jamaica top their group to then qualify for the CWC.

CONCACAF said Shaw had braces versus Bermuda (4-0), Grenada (6-1) and the Dominican Republic (5-1), and a hat trick against the Cayman Islands (9-0).

At club level, with Manchester City in England, Shaw was equally prolific, CONCACAF said.

During the calendar year 2022, it said she scored 15 goals in 19 Women’s Super League games, seven goals in eight domestic cup games (Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s League Cup) and two goals in two UEFA Women’s Champions League games.

Shaw’s three goals in the knockout stage helped Manchester City claim the 2021-22 FA Women’s League Cup, CONCACAF said.