Gotham FC’s Jaydyn Shaw Finds Her Groove Again

This season, Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amoros offered some encouraging words to midfielder Jaydyn Shaw before a match against the Kansas City Current. He reminded her how much he loved watching her dribble and take shots, regardless of whether they resulted in goals.

Shaw recalled that moment fondly, feeling like Amoros had given her permission to really compete against some of the top teams in the NWSL. It was about embracing her style—being bold, taking risks. However, she admits that she had drifted away from that mindset.

“I tell myself, ‘Okay, I see Midge.’ [Purce] She does it every time; maybe she’ll lose the ball, but she’s confident and goes for it again. Rose [Lavelle] does that too,” Shaw shared. “I’m starting to feel more comfortable and getting back to playing the way I know I can.”

Gotham has encouraged her to rediscover the playful side of her game, which has been essential after a challenging few months. This resurgence ultimately contributed to her record-breaking $1.25 million transfer from North Carolina Courage to Gotham in September.

“I feel really valued and confident in this environment,” Shaw expressed. “It’s been a roller coaster year. Towards the end of my time with the Courage, I felt like I was on the upswing… Being with Gotham has accelerated that process from the start.”

Not too long ago, Shaw felt a bit lost. After joining Courage in January, the pressure to meet expectations became overwhelming. She had a tough time on the field, recording only one assist and three goals across 19 games.

She even lost her spot on the U.S. women’s national team roster.

A fresh start was definitely needed, and the prospect of playing alongside Lavelle was exciting.

Amoros knew that Shaw had more potential than she had shown this season.

“She’s a player we really believed in,” he noted. “We thought she was something special.”

Thanks to Gotham’s supportive atmosphere and focus on individual skill, Shaw has managed to turn her season around, securing her place in the first-team lineup for this month’s friendlies.

“I’ve always said I play better when I’m smiling. It’s hard not to smile in the Gotham environment,” Shaw said. “Playing with teammates who aren’t afraid to take risks reminded me of who I was as a young player.”

“Somewhere along the way, I drifted from that perspective. I didn’t prioritize it. But now, I’m starting to figure out who I am, both on and off the field.”

Shaw is looking forward to facing her former team in what will be the final regular-season game for both clubs, especially with playoff implications at stake.

“There’s no bad blood on my side,” she noted. “I think they’re a solid team; it should be a good match. I expect a lot from it.”

“We just have to treat it like any other game—no extra emotion or anything special just because it’s against my old team. We’ll approach it like we would any other match.”

The Courage are currently struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive, while Gotham has already secured a postseason spot, though their seeding is still uncertain.

For Gotham to host a quarterfinal game, they not only need to beat Courage, but also require Kansas City to tie or defeat San Diego, and Houston to do the same against Portland.

“It’s a relief not to have to wonder, ‘How are we going to clinch?’ because we’re already in the playoffs,” Amoros remarked. “Now, it’s about striving for the highest seed possible and moving on from there.”