Jaedyn Shaw Feels Like a ‘Superhero Putting On Their Cape’ Playing for USWNT, Makes Emotional First Camp Confession

Jaedyn Shaw is the new talk of the town in the realm of US women’s soccer. At just 19, her name is on everyone’s lips, especially with her recent performance in the SheBelieves Cup for the 4x World Champions. As she continues to bask in the glow of representing her country, Shaw buzzes with optimism, asserting that ‘this isn’t the end.’

During a discussion with Attacking Third’s Morning Footy installment, the San Diego Waves star praised the experience of wearing the USWNT jersey following a successful commencement to her international career. “I think once I just put the jersey on, it’s just like a superhero putting on their cape,” she said. While explaining the ‘different‘ feeling of wearing her nation’s shirt, Shaw added, “I feel like it just adds another level to your game, and it’s just like that environment makes you so much better even just in the short amount of time that I’ve been on this team.”

Having learned and grown so much since her call-up, the teenager was already confident about embarking on her international career. “So yeah, I honestly don’t know if there was a single moment where I was like, ‘Okay, I can do this’. I think once I made my first camp, I was like, ‘Okay, this isn’t the end. I didn’t make it. This is like the beginning,'” concluded the NWSL starlet. Certainly, her recent performance shows that her optimism proved favorable to her. 

Shaw has been a standout performer for the USWNT since earning her spot on the team, finding the net in each of her five starting appearances and netting a pivotal goal in the SheBelieves Cup semi-final. The question arose about whether she had persuaded the coaching staff to select her for the Olympics. 

Has Jaedyn Shaw found her place on the Olympic roster? 

Usually, young talents take time to adjust to the settings of the national team. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case for Jaedyn Shaw. Merely six months after her debut, Shaw cemented her status among the team’s most prominent figures. In fact, her remarkable rise comes at the right place and time, given that the USWNT is in a reset phase after enduring a poor World Cup stint. 

Soon to be led by Emma Hayes, the American ladies have their focus on the Olympics. Hence, it will be intriguing to see whether Shaw can contend for a spot in the front three alongside players such as Lynn Williams, Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, and Trinity Rodman. Moreover, the return of Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario from their injuries adds another layer of competition.

READ MORE: Trinity Rodman Refuses to Change Her Style to Fit Emma Hayes’ Expectations for USWNT’s Olympic Selection

Clearly, the battle for a position in the starting XI within the USWNT lineup is still intense. Let’s hope that Jaedyn Shaw’s history-making antics would have convinced the coaching staff to give her a chance in the 18-player Olympic roster.