KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former Tennessee soccer standouts Bunny Shaw and Hannah Wilkinson are set to open group play this week as they represent their home countries at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by France from June 7 through July 7. Shaw makes her World Cup debut as a forward for Jamaica, while Wilkinson makes her third appearance on the sport’s biggest stage as a striker for New Zealand.
GROUP PLAY SCHEDULE: Making its first-ever World Cup appearance, Jamaica will compete in Group C alongside Brazil, Italy and Australia. New Zealand drew Group E, going up against The Netherlands, Canada and Cameroon. Six group winners, six group runners-up and the four best third-placed teams from the six groups will advance to the knockout stage.
See below for a group play schedule and TV listings for both Jamaica and New Zealand.
GROUP C (Jamaica – Bunny Shaw)
Sunday, June 9 / Jamaica vs. Brazil / 9:30 a.m. ET / FS1
Friday, June 14 / Jamaica vs. Italy / 12:00 p.m. ET / FOX
Tuesday, June 18 / Jamaica vs. Australia / 3:00 p.m. ET / FS2
GROUP E (New Zealand – Hannah Wilkinson)
Tuesday, June 11 / New Zealand vs. The Netherlands / 9:00 a.m. ET / FS1
Saturday, June 15 / New Zealand vs. Canada / 3:00 p.m. ET / FS2
Thursday, June 20 / New Zealand vs. Cameroon / 12:00 p.m. ET / FS1
QUICK SHAW BIO: A two-year letter-winner for Tennessee, Shaw transferred to the Vols after two seasons at Eastern Florida State College. The Jamaican superstar shined bright in the Orange and White, amassing 27 goals and 65 points from 2017-18 and racking up a lengthy list of accolades, including SEC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-America honors in 2018. A recent graduate of UT’s College of Communications & Information, Shaw led all players worldwide with 19 goals scored for Jamaica in the World Cup qualifying rounds last year and was later named to the CONCACAF Best XI.
QUICK WILKINSON BIO: Wilkinson was a five-year standout for the Big Orange from 2012-16, finishing her collegiate career as the No. 2 goal scorer in program history with 33. The Whangarei, New Zealand native was a two-time First Team All-SEC performer and became UT’s fifth All-American with a third team nod from the NSCAA in 2012. Battling post-collegiate injuries and surgeries, Wilkinson recently returned to the pitch and looks to provide veteran leadership for the Ferns this summer.
LADY VOLS IN THE WORLD CUP: Shaw and Wilkinson are two of five Lady Vols to make a Women’s World Cup roster in the program’s 23-year history. Rhian Wilkinson (2000-03) and Marie-Eve Nault (2000-03) have each represented Canada on multiple occasions, while Kendyl Michner (1997-99) became Tennessee’s first World Cup performer for Mexico in 1999.
-UT Athletics
