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Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was named the women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the second time in her career after scoring 21 goals during the 2025/26 season as City won the Women’s Super League title, while also claiming her third consecutive WSL Golden Boot in the process.
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Arsenal’s Olivia Smith successfully retained her women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award, having first won the prize in 2025 during her time at Liverpool, making her one of the standout young talents in the women’s game across two different clubs in as many seasons.
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The PFA Women’s Team of the Year featured strong representation from Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, with three players apiece selected from Arsenal and Chelsea. At the same time, Tottenham’s Toko Koga and Manchester United’s Jess Park also earned spots in the starting XI for their performances throughout the season.
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Former England international Karen Carney received a PFA Merit Award in recognition of a career that included 144 caps for England, a place in Arsenal’s historic quadruple-winning squad of 2007, and a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018.
August 26, (THEWILL) — Bunny Shaw and Olivia Smith took centre stage at the 2026 PFA Awards, with both players collecting the two biggest individual prizes in the women’s game at a ceremony held at the Manchester Opera House.
Shaw’s dominance in English women’s football was rewarded once again on the night, as the Manchester City forward was named the women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
The Jamaica international scored 21 goals during the 2025/26 campaign as City lifted the Women’s Super League title, while also picking up her third consecutive WSL Golden Boot along the way. It’s the second time in her career that Shaw has won the PFA’s top individual prize, having first claimed it back in the 2023/24 season. At 29, she remains one of the most feared attacking threats in the league, and this latest honor adds to what has already been an outstanding period in her career.
The award carries extra significance given that it’s voted for entirely by fellow professional players, meaning Shaw was recognise by the very defenders and goalkeepers tasked with stopping her week in, week out.
Smith, meanwhile, made history of her own by retaining the women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The Arsenal forward first won the prize in 2025 on the back of her performances for Liverpool, and followed it up with another impressive campaign after her move to Arsenal, becoming one of the standout young talents in the women’s game across two different clubs in as many seasons. Her ability to maintain that level of performance after stepping up to one of the sport’s biggest clubs only strengthens her case as one of the league’s brightest prospects.
The PFA Women’s Team of the Year told a similar story of City and Arsenal’s dominance over the season, with both clubs heavily represented in the starting XI. City contributed Bunny Shaw, Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa, while Arsenal placed three of their own in Mariona Caldentey, Emily Fox and Alessia Russo.
Chelsea matched that with three representatives too, in goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter and Lauren James. Tottenham’s Toko Koga and Manchester United’s Jess Park rounded out the side, ensuring the team reflected a broad cross-section of the league’s best performers rather than just the title winners.
Former England international Karen Carney was presented with a PFA Merit Award in recognition of a decorated playing career.
Carney won 144 caps for England and represented the Lionesses at the 2015 World Cup, while also forming part of Arsenal’s historic quadruple-winning squad in 2007 before later helping Chelsea complete a league and FA Cup double in 2018.
Between Shaw’s continued excellence in front of goal, Smith’s back-to-back recognition as the league’s top young talent, and Carney’s Merit Award honoring her legacy in the sport, the women’s game had plenty to celebrate on a night that captured both its present stars and its history.
As with the men’s awards, the fact that fellow professionals decide these honours made the recognition all the more meaningful for the players involved.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
