Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
United States women’s national team attacking talent Jaedyn Shaw will join the North Carolina Courage via trade from San Diego Wave FC, multiple sources with knowledge of the deal told The Equalizer.
San Diego’s return in the trade is expected to be a large sum of money – likely a mix of allocation money and intra-league transfer funds – that should place the deal among some of the largest intra-league transfers in NWSL history.
Shaw, who turned 20 in November, is one of the rising stars of the U.S. women’s national team. She can play in several positions across the forward and midfield line, although she has said in the past that she prefers the No. 10 role.
The NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement, which takes full effect on Wednesday, requires player consent for all trades. Shaw had requested a trade earlier in 2024 and the Wave worked to find the right deal, one source with knowledge of the situation said.
North Carolina has been in need of attacking firepower, having scored the fewest goals (34 in 26 games) among the top six teams in 2024.
Brazilian attacker Kerolin, who can similarly play across the forward and midfield lines, missed most of the 2024 season for North Carolina due to injury. Named the NWSL MVP in 2023, Kerolin is out of contract and a free agent; her next move remains unclear.
The Wave were involved in the record-setting intra-league transfer last year when they paid $500,000 total to the Houston Dash for winger Maria Sanchez. Houston recently paid $400,000 in allocation money for versatile attacker Yazmeen Ryan in the biggest move of the offseason thus far.
Shaw turned professional as a 17-year-old in 2022, making her the second-youngest player in league history at the time of her debut. She scored in each of her first three NWSL games, becoming the second player in league history to achieve the feat.
Shaw made her senior international debut in October 2023 and quickly became part of the team’s picture on the road to the 2024 Olympics, where the U.S. won gold, but a leg injury prevented Shaw from playing a single minute.
She has eight goals in 21 caps thus far for the United States. In her return to the field for the U.S. in October, Shaw scored three minutes after entering the match in a win over Iceland.
“Her ability to create and score goals is second to none in this country,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said after the match.
Shaw was integral to San Diego winning the NWSL Shield in 2023, when she posted six goals and three assists. She tallied four goals and an assist in 2024 as the Wave endured a tumultuous year that included the mid-season firing of head coach Casey Stoney, two interim coaches, and lawsuits against the organization – and the NWSL – filed by former employees.
The Wave finished 10th in the 14-team NWSL in 2024.
North Carolina plays the most possession-based style in the NWSL and led the league in most major statistical passing and possession categories. The Courage finished fifth in the standings then narrowly lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Kansas City Current.
After the 1-0 loss in the quarterfinals, Courage head coach Sean Nahas expressed his frustration and his desire for the team to improve further in 2025.
“I just know that we have to sort of lock up our players now and figure out what’s their plan, and we go from there,” he said. “I’m just tired of getting knocked out in the first round, so we have to figure out ways that we can see beyond it, but these are the moments that you relish, and you learn from.”
North Carolina is currently searching for a general manager or equivalent following the recent departure of longtime chief soccer officer Curt Johnson. The Courage franchise was also openly and publicly for sale in the fall, but a deal fell through between current majority owner Steve Malik and the Avenue Sports Group firm led by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry.
