DOB: 25 November 1988
Debut: Round 1 2017 vs Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields
From: Lalor Park/St. Albans/Darebin Falcons
Number: 4 (2017-)
Honours:
Premiership player - 2022 spring season
All-Australian - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Victorian interstate player - 2017
Best and Fairest - 2019, 2021
Grand Final team - 2022 summer season
Life Member - 2024
Games: 77* (to end 2024)
Goals: 26*
Career statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 56 | 0 | 21 | 72.72 |
Statistical categories led:
Most games and Most goals in number 4
Most disposals - (1425)
Most kicks - (886)
Most handballs - (539)
Most contested possessions - (573)
Most kicks in a game: 22 - Round 3, 2017 vs Western Bulldogs
Most behinds in a game: 4 - Round 2, 2019 vs Collingwood
Equal most finals - 10
Utility who first appeared with the Western Bulldogs in the 2013 exhibition match against Melbourne. Joined the Demons for the 2016 edition and was signed by Melbourne as a priority player for the first season of the national women's competition.
Member of Melbourne's first AFLW team and played every game for the first season, finishing second in the team's Best and Fairest and the league's best player award.
After missing most of the Round 1, 2018 game with a back injury, Paxman returned to play the rest of the season and was one Melbourne's best. Paxman was again one of the team's star players in 2019, playing every game for the third consecutive year, again being named an All Australian, and turning back interest from expansion side St Kilda to sign a two year contract extension.
2020 was another standout season, with another All Australian selection. It left Paxman one of only two players, alongside Elise O'Dea, to play every game of the club's first four seasons.
A fifth All Australian in 2021, was joined by third in the league's Best and Fairest, and another season playing every game. Paxman missed All Australian honours in the 2022 summer season, but became Melbourne's first 50 game AFLW player. Paxman remained one of the side's key midfielders the next season, playing in the club's inaugural premiership.
For the first time Paxman was troubled by injuries during 2023, missing two games with hamstring issues, and two after being concussed while playing with a dog at home. Signed a one year contract extension at the end of the year, but suffered an injury hit 2024 season, restricted to five games with ongoing foot soreness. Signed a one year contract extension at the end of the season. At the end of 2024 Paxman and Daisy Pearce became the first AFLW players to receive MFC life membership.
Played under the name Karen Paxman from 2017 to the 2022 spring season.
| Year | Games | Goals | AFLW B&F |
| 2017 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 | 4 | 13 |
| 2022 summer | 12 | 4 | 7 |
| 2022 spring | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Tribunal record
| Round | Charge | Sanction | |
| Round 2, 2020 | Rough conduct | Reprimand | |
Media
melbournefc.com.au - 16/09/2016, 11/12/2023, 19/12/2024
afl.com.au - 25/10/2023
news.com.au - 17/10/2024