Jaedyn Shaw

Jaedyn Reese Shaw (born November 20, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.

Shaw has represented the United States on the under-17, under-19 and under-20 national teams, and was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2022.

Early career
In April 2019, at the age of 14, Shaw verbally committed to joining the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill starting in the 2024 season. At the age of 15, Shaw was also invited to train with the French first-division club, Paris Saint-Germain. At the youth level, she played for FC Dallas and Solar Soccer Club. In 2022, Shaw was rated as the second ranked top prospect for the high school class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer.

In spring 2022, she joined Washington Spirit for pre-season and was named in the club's initial preseason roster.

San Diego Wave
In July 2022, Shaw signed for NWSL club San Diego Wave after she was permitted to enter the NWSL through a discovery process which allowed for an amendment of the leagues age restrictions.

Thirteen days after signing with the club, on July 30, Shaw started the Wave's NWSL match against Chicago Red Stars. She became the second-youngest player to compete in NWSL at the age of 17 years, eight months. After scoring the game winner for her team in the 27th minute, she became the youngest NWSL player to score in their debut. Shaw went on to score goals against Washington Spirit and Angel City in September, bringing her tally to three goals in three matches. She became the second player in NWSL history to score in each of their first three league appearances. Shaw finished off her first season with 3 goals in 7 matches.

In August 2023, Shaw signed a multi-year contract with the Wave through the 2026 season. During the 2023 season, Shaw scored the most goals as a teenager in NWSL history and helped the Wave win its first-ever NWSL Shield.

International career
Shaw was part of the U-15 team at the CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship in 2018. She played a key role in helping the team to the title and winning the golden ball award as the best player of the tournament. She scored two goals in the final of the tournament leading the team to a 3–0 victory over Mexico.

In early 2020, Shaw became a starter for the U-20, where she scored two goals in three matches to help the squad to win the Sud Ladies Cup in Aubagne, France. Afterwards, Shaw was named to the USA U-20 roster for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She was one of two NWSL players to play for the U20 USWNT in the U20 World Cup.

Shaw received her first call up to the senior team in September 2023 and made her debut a month later on October 26, 2023, in a friendly against Colombia in Sandy, Utah. A few days later she scored her first goal for the USWNT in San Diego, California in her second cap on October 29, 2023, in another friendly against Colombia which ended in a 3–0 victory. She scored her second goal in her hometown of Frisco, Texas a month later on December 5, 2023, which was a game winner in a comeback against China that finished as a 2–1 victory.

Shaw was named to the 23-player roster for the inaugural 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. During the tournament Shaw played in all 6 matches and scored 4 goals, becoming the first player in the USWNT's history to score in their first four starts for the team. Her performance earned her the Golden Ball, given to the best player of the tournament as the USWNT defeated Brazil 1–0 in the final and lifted the first Gold Cup in San Diego on March 10, 2023.

On March 26, 2024, Shaw was called up for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup and scored the first goal, an equalizer in a 2–1 comeback victory against Japan on April 6, 2024, extending her record to become the first player to score in their first five starts. Shaw also started the final against Canada who the team defeated after a penalty shootout to win their 7th title at the SheBelieves Cup.

On June 26, 2024, Shaw was named to the United States roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Style of play
Shaw has played across all attacking roles, including as a winger, center forward, and attacking midfielder, and prefers to play as a forward. She is known for seeking and recognizing openings to receive the ball and for her creativity under pressure, possessing both the physical strength and technical control to protect possession as well as the agility to turn defenders. Her signature move is to drag the ball back under her foot to force defenders off balance. Shaw is also an ambidextrous passer. For the Wave under Casey Stoney, Shaw has featured as a hybrid 10 or as a center forward capable of rotating to either wing with Sofia Jakobsson.

Personal life
Shaw's father and mother are Black and Vietnamese respectively. She is the first Vietnamese-American to ever represent the United States Women's National Team.

International

 * Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Shaw goal.

Honors
San Diego Wave
 * NWSL Shield: 2023
 * NWSL Challenge Cup: 2024

United States U15
 * CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship: 2018

United States U20
 * Sud Ladies Cup: 2022

United States
 * CONCACAF W Gold Cup: 2024
 * SheBelieves Cup: 2024

Individual
 * CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship Golden Ball: 2018
 * Sud Ladies Cup Best XI: 2022
 * US Soccer Young Female Player of the Year: 2022
 * NWSL Best XI: 2023
 * CONCACAF W Gold Cup Golden Ball: 2024
 * CONCACAF W Gold Cup Best XI: 2024