The skilful forward, who joined Crystal Palace in summer 2022, became the club's first-ever female player to earn a call-up to a major international tournament finals.
And Bailey-Gayle and her country's dream lived on in the most remarkable of circumstances after three Group F fixtures.
Two 0-0 draws a couple of the competition's highest-ranking sides – France and Brazil – as well as a first-ever win at the finals, 1-0 over Panama, were enough to knock the Brazilians out and see Jamaica set up a last-16 clash with Colombia.
However, a tight knockout clash saw Jamaica come agonisingly close to the quarter-finals, losing out to Catalina Usme's second-half goal. Colombia will progress to take on England in the last eight.
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Paige Bailey-Gayle's story
When Bailey-Gayle began a call to her family group chat, she had some incredible news to share: she was heading to the World Cup with Jamaica.
Her call-up means she is Palace Women’s first representative on the sport’s biggest stage, as she prepared to take on Panama, France and Brazil in Australia and New Zealand.
“I was on a camp before, where we were training,” she remembers of her selection. “We got an email letting us know about the call-ups.
“I was in an airport and I had no service, so I said to one of the girls: ‘Can you message me if I'm in the squad?’ I came off the plane at Atlanta and she messaged saying: ‘You’re in the squad!’
“I was just sat there by myself. As soon as I got Wi-Fi I called my mum and sister on a group call. I was like: ‘Mum, I'm going to the World Cup!’”
