Manchester City ended their title-winning Women’s Super League campaign in style, beating West Ham 4-1 as Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scored twice to bring her season tally to 21 goals.
Shaw, recently crowned Women’s Footballer of the Year, celebrated both strikes in front of travelling City fans amid ongoing speculation about her future and links to Chelsea. The rumours did nothing to curb her influence: she finished the match with the most touches in the box and created three chances, more than any other player on the pitch.
City took the lead when Jade Rose headed home from a corner, underlining Andree Jeglertz’s side’s threat from set-pieces — they have scored 14 times from corners this season, more than double any other team. Shaw doubled the advantage after being played in by Aoba Fujino, thumping home the first of her brace, and then completed her brace by arriving on a through ball from Laura Coombs to slot past Kinga Szemik.
Coombs added a memorable finale to her seven-year City career by chipping Szemik for the fourth goal in what was her final WSL appearance. The midfielder leaves having enjoyed a long and distinguished career and will be remembered as a WSL great.
West Ham did not go quietly. Ffion Morgan and Seraina Piubel combined to produce a well-worked goal for the hosts, and young Swiss forward Leila Wandeler tested City keeper Eartha Cumings late on. Cumings — who had not featured in the WSL for four years — made three excellent saves and reflected on how “special” it was to be part of such a talented squad.
City also marked the occasion by lifting the WSL trophy, a moment that came ten years after their first league title. Captain Alex Greenwood told Sky Sports it was “one of the best moments I’ve had,” praising the group and their hard work. Lauren Hemp said the achievement moved her to tears and highlighted the togetherness in the squad. Manager Andree Jeglertz described lifting the trophy as “amazing” and “a little bit unreal,” praising the depth of his squad and looking forward to a season with more fixtures and opportunities for his players.
The victory sealed a celebratory end to City’s campaign: clinical from set-pieces, potent in open play, and marked by emotional farewells and standout individual performances.