Jaedyn Shaw was understandably elated when she scored for the USWNT in front of around 50 friends and family to complete a comeback victory over China. “I love being here in this stadium, and I have so many memories here,” Shaw said after the game. “I’m just so happy to be able to play here at this level and play on this team.”
Jaedyn Shaw’s parents sacrificed a lot to pay for Shaw’s career
Jaedyn Shaw was born to Lance and Ann Shaw on November 20, 2004, in Frisco, Texas. After recognizing Shaw’s enthusiasm for soccer, her parents got her into a soccer academy at an early age. The young Texan delivered on her prodigious talent, outshining more experienced players.
Lance and Ann decided to invest in their daughter’s career, slashing expenses to get enough money for Shaw. At one point, the family lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Ann told Goal:
“There was a year or two where all four of us lived in a one-bedroom apartment to be able to afford for her to go out of town, out of state, out of the country. My husband and I set our lives on the backburner – no vacations, no honeymoon, no nothing – in order for us to be able to handle the financial burdens that came with the opportunity.”
Shaw focused on the bright side, stating that the living conditions brought the family closer. Looking back, Ann said the sacrifices she and Lance made were worth it. “Sacrifice is really the primary reason, I think, why some of these athletes get the opportunity that they do and carry the humbleness and work ethic that they do, because of the things that we’ve had to sacrifice,” Ann continued.
Shaw told ESPN that she owed everything to her family: “I owe everything to my parents for the sacrifices that they made for me. I know that we didn’t always have a lot to work with, and they always made sure that I had what I needed to be able to play the game that I love.”