Jaedyn Shaw has made an explosive start to life with the U.S. women’s national team, but interim head coach Twila Kilgore has said the 19-year-old is still only scratching the surface of her potential.
Shaw found the net against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup on Saturday, becoming the first USWNT player to ever score in her first five career starts.
The San Diego Wave star has stood out even amid a deep pool of attacking talent on the USWNT, and is growing closer to becoming a lock for a highly competitive 18-player Olympic roster.
Ahead of the SheBelieves Cup final on Tuesday against Canada, Kilgore offered a warning to any future defenses who will have to deal with Shaw.
“I think Jaedyn has always been a really good goalscorer,” Kilgore said at a press conference. “I think finding your niche in this team and being able to score consistently is quite a feat, especially as you’re being integrated. And I would actually say even though she’s here, she’s doing a great job, we’re seeing great things from her and we’re really pleased, I’d say she’s still in the onboarding process. She is still working on all phases of her game.”
Kigore added: “She’s open to challenges, she’s very humble, she’s hardworking, she wants to be better. And while the world is saying, ‘Yeah, she’s here and she’s arrived,’ and I agree she’s doing a great job, be patient because there’s more lot more for her.”
5 – Jaedyn Shaw is the only player in #USWNT history to score in her first five career starts.
She's only the 13th player to score in 5 straight starts in any point in her career and at 19 years, 138 days old, the youngest ever to do so. Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/C7WBEftzt6
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) April 6, 2024
Kilgore also spoke about how Shaw has become such a potent goalscorer at an early stage of her national team career.
“It’s her focus, it’s her calmness, and I believe that she’s looking at beating the goalkeeper and not necessarily the person that’s right in front of her,” Kilgore said. “I think that’s almost a given at this point. And it’s more about beating the goalkeeper.
“She’s willing to take the risk and hit a first-time ball or even take a risk and make a well-timed run and assume the ball is going to get there as opposed to waiting for the ball. And that sets her apart from a lot of people.”
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