Gotham FC attacker Jaedyn Shaw closed out her 2025 campaign with clutch playoff goals, a first career NWSL championship and continued progress with the United States women’s national team.
Shaw tasted her first title success by helping Gotham defeat the Washington Spirit in the 2025 NWSL Championship game, which was the most-watched match in league history, peaking at 1,550,000 viewers.
Her expressiveness on the pitch and confident personality have elevated her into becoming one of the NWSL’s most marketable personalities.
Shaw’s “underdog, my (expletive)” quote was printed on t-shirts after Gotham toppled No. 1-ranked Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals. Her dramatic 97th-minute dipping free-kick goal against defending champions Orlando Pride booked Gotham’s place in the 2025 NWSL Championship.
Not Satisfied With One NWSL Title, Shaw Knows Gotham FC Must ‘Do It Again and Again’
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Ahead of her second season with the Bats, the 21-year-old USWNT star sat down with Athlon Sports for a one-on-one interview during Gotham FC’s Media Day.
When Shaw took her seat, two clear changes on her uniform stood out. The first was an added gold star hovering over Gotham’s club badge placed above the preexisting sky blue star to signify a second NWSL championship in franchise history.
Shaw gazed at the gold star on her jersey. For the Frisco, Texas, native, it represents an unquenchable desire for her and her Gotham teammates to continue striving for future championships.
"As my first championship, it always means a lot,” Shaw said. “To be in this environment and in this sports market and to be a part of this club and get another star for the championship was an awesome moment. It's so special, and to see it here on the jersey is really awesome. It's a reminder that we have to do it again and again."
The second difference was the number 10 on the back of her jersey, which was vacated after Geyse’s loan expired. USWNT icons Allie Long, Carli Lloyd and Lynn Biyendolo previously wore the number for the Sky Blue-Gotham franchise.
"10 is an iconic number,” Shaw stated. “I'll do my very best to represent it well. For me, there's the balance of okay, it's just a number, don't add extra pressure on to yourself, that's not necessary. I think there's also part of pride as well in how I want to represent this club and be someone that they can rely on, that can be there for my teammates, and be a leader on this team as well at some point. I'm not saying I am now, but at some point be a leader. That's not playing a part in my number but just who I want to be as a player. I'm grateful to have this opportunity to wear the number 10."
Shaw is also grateful for the tutelage that she’s received from two of the winningest coaches in women’s soccer.
Shaw Praises Amorós, Hayes for Maximizing Her Abilities
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Juan Carlos Amorós has ushered in an era of silverware as Gotham head coach, and USWNT head coach Emma Hayes captured 16 trophies in 12 seasons at Chelsea as she looks to guide the Americans to success at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"I think having coaches like Juan and Emma, they're two very different coaches,” Shaw said. “But I think the one thing that is a constant between the two of them is they want to coach us as people as well and make sure that we're taken care of as human beings before players. I think that's really important for me. Both coaches instill a lot of confidence in me, whether it's the best performance of my life or a mediocre performance, they have such a way with words."
Shaw credited Amorós for being able to unlock her best performances by allowing her to express herself on the pitch and play the game with deep emotion.
"Juan is someone who is extremely passionate, who just loves the game and wants us to succeed and wants us all to do well,” she stated. “That plays a lot into the way that I play. I feel like I play with a lot of emotion. My emotions kind of control how I play. So I think it's something that I really like that kind of rubs off on me in the way that I approach games and how I want to approach my performance altogether."
Shaw on Hayes: 'We Have a Very Special Relationship'
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Similar to Trinity Rodman, Shaw recognizes that Hayes is a master of taking different approaches to get the best out of each player in the national team squad.
"Emma has such a maternal point of view in how she coaches,” Shaw said. “She has a very good balance of knowing how to get the best out of players while also making sure that they're taken care of as human beings. I'm in a really great place as far as coaches and people I'm surrounded with, and that's extremely important to me for all aspects of life.
"I think we have a very special relationship. With Emma, she does really well with knowing that each player needs something different. She tailors how she coaches to make sure that each person gets what they need. I think that's something that's very rare and special. That's kind of her superpower in a way. I think she's probably one of the best coaches that I've ever had. I'm obviously really grateful to have had the opportunity to play under her."
With Hayes and Amorós behind her, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Shaw’s star continue to rise in 2026.