MANCHESTER, England — Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw celebrated her return to the pitch by kneeling and raising a gloved fist after netting a goal on her first start for Manchester City Women since taking a break to address the racist harassment she received on social media.

The Jamaican forward, regarded as one of the top strikers globally, displayed the Black Power salute during the team’s 4-0 victory over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, marking an impressive performance that included two goals.

“It’s incredibly significant,” noted City manager Gareth Taylor. “Bunny embodies pride in her identity, and her journey carries great importance.”

Shaw faced a wave of online abuse following a match against Arsenal on February 2, leading her to withdraw from the League Cup semifinal four days later. She made a comeback as a substitute in an FA Cup match on February 9.

In Sunday’s encounter with Liverpool, Shaw found herself back in the starting XI and expressed joy at scoring again after an emotional period. “It felt great to get back on the scoresheet following a challenging couple of days,” she remarked.

Taylor emphasized that Shaw’s teammates provided vital support during the match. “It’s wonderful for her to receive warmth and encouragement from both the supporters and the club,” he added.

The Black Power salute Shaw made is a historic gesture that was originally seen on the Olympic podium in 1968, when American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists to protest against racial inequality.