One of the biggest offseason moves was confirmed on Jan. 14. North Carolina Courage, who finished 2024 in fifth place of the regular season and lost to Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs, picked up Jaedyn Shaw from San Diego Wave for allocation money, transfer fees, and a 2025 and 2026 international roster spot.
The 20-year-old midfielder/forward first came on the scene when she signed for San Diego Wave through a youth-entry process in July 2022. Just 17, the creative player went on to play an impressive role in the Wave’s inaugural season. Shaw was named U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year. In 2023, Shaw was key to the Wave’s Shield-winning season, and was named to NWSL’s Best XI while still a teenager.
She’s recently worked her way into the USWNT, winning the W Gold Cup Golden Ball and Best XI honors last spring, before going on to earn a spot on Emma Hayes’ Olympic roster, though she was sidelined due to injury.
It’s been a tumultuous year for San Diego Wave, with their inaugural head coach, Casey Stoney, departing before the end of the season and the club missing the playoffs for the first time. Shaw’s new home seems like a timely new start for one of the most promising young talents in NWSL.