San Diego Wave FC granted Jaedyn Shaw’s wish, sending her to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for $300,000 in Allocation Money and $150,000 in Intra-League Transfer Funds.
The team announced the trade Tuesday, adding that the Wave also will receive 2025 and 2026 international slots.
Additionally, the Wave could receive up to an additional $75,000 in Allocation Money in 2025 in exchange for sending up to $150,000 in transfer fees to the Courage, subject to a conditional agreement.
With the trade, the Wave loses a star midfielder, the former 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year who won an Olympic Gold Medal for the U.S. team last year.
Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton called her impact on and off the field “a significant part of our club’s growth,” but said that Shaw told the club early last season that she wanted to “explore other options outside the Wave.”
“While it’s always hard to see a player of her talent move on, we respect and understand her decision to seek a new chapter in her career and we’re happy we were able to help facilitate the move she wanted. We wish her nothing but success in the future,” Ashton said.
Shaw, just 20, joined the Wave via the Discovery Process and signed her first professional contract in 2022, at 17. She made her pro debut days later, on July 30, scoring 28 minutes into her first game. She became the youngest player in the NWSL to score in her debut.
Shaw appeared in 61 games (45 starts) with the Wave, while logging 14 goals and 4 assists.
The native of Frisco, Texas said she wanted to thank the fans and the Wave “for the incredible support and love you have shown me,” calling it “an absolute honor to start my professional career in this city and represent this club.”
“The opportunity to pursue a new chapter is bittersweet, but I am excited about what lies ahead,” she said.
Shaw received her first call-up to the USWNT in September 2023 and made her international debut the following month, earning her first cap on Oct. 26. She made history, becoming the first player to score in each of her first five USWNT starts. She also was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
