A 20 year-old professional soccer player, Jaedyn Shaw, was born to multiethnic parents.
Jaedyn Shaw made history by becoming the youngest scorer for the USWNT since the 2016 Olympics and earning accolades like the 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
But behind her rise are her parents, Lance and Ann Shaw, whose sacrifices and support have been the foundation of her success.
Jaedyn Shaw was born on November 20, 2004, in Frisco, Texas, to Lance Shaw, an African American father, and Ann Shaw, a Vietnamese-born mother who immigrated to the United States.
Ann, who played soccer in her youth, not only supported Jaedyn as a mother but also served as her early coach. She home-schooled Jaedyn since fourth grade.
Soccer Player Jaedyn Shaw Credits Her Parents’ Sacrifices For Shaping Her Career!
Jaedyn‘s journey to achieving her soccer dreams was made possible by her parents’ belief and sacrifices.
Recognizing Jaedyn’s talent from as early as age two, when she tried playing during her older sister’s soccer games, Lance and Ann committed to nurturing her passion.
However, pursuing elite youth soccer in the U.S is costly, and for the Shaws, this meant making tough choices to afford travel for tournaments, out-of-state games, and even international training opportunities.
Determined to let their baby girl follow her dreams, Lance and Ann sacrificed everything within their power to support her, ensuring she had every opportunity to achieve success.
Their sacrifices extended beyond finances; they prioritized Jaedyn’s dreams over personal comforts, including living in a one-bedroom apartment.
For a period, the family of four lived in a modest one-bedroom apartment in Frisco, Texas. Jaedyn and her brother Jaxon shared a bed in the living room, while Lance and Ann occupied the single bedroom, all sharing one bathroom.
Ann described this time, saying:
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 to handle the financial burdens that came with the opportunity.
Likewise, they moved from Texas to San Diego last summer to support Jaedyn’s professional career with the San Diego Wave FC. This speaks about Lance and Ann’s commitment to helping their daughter chase her dreams.
This relocation ensured a smooth transition as Jaedyn joined the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) at just 17, becoming the second-youngest player to compete in the league and the youngest to score in her debut.
The 20-year-old Jaedyn has been vocal about her gratitude for her parents’ sacrifices, often crediting them for everything she has achieved and has yet to achieve.
In an interview with ESPN, she said:
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.
She reflected on their cramped living conditions, noting:
Me and my brother shared a bed in the living room, my parents had the one room, and all four of us shared one bathroom. It was chaotic, but I think that it brought us so close as a family and it allowed us to just be grateful for each other’s presence, even amid hard times.
