Vietnamese-American female athlete honors Vietnamese ao dai

Jaedyn Shaw is charming in Vietnamese ao dai

Photo: NWSL

Jaedyn Shaw honors Vietnamese Ao Dai

During AAPI Heritage Month, talented young player of the US women's national soccer team Jaedyn Shaw created a special moment when she radiantly wore a Vietnamese ao dai.

At the age of 20, Jaedyn Shaw has quickly established herself as one of the brightest young talents in NC Courage as well as the American women's soccer world, not only because of her technical skills but also her strong playing style.

As the first Vietnamese-American woman to play for the US women's national soccer team, Shaw embraces her heritage with pride and strength, reflected in her style on the field and most recently in a stunning ao dai by renowned designer Thai Nguyen.

Immediately, the image of Jaedyn Shaw in a custom-designed traditional ao dai attracted attention in the month designated to honor cultural heritage.

Jaedyn Shaw shines in Vietnamese ao dai

Photo: NWSL

Jaedyn Shaw was first called up to the U.S. women's national team in September 2023 and made her debut in October 2023 at age 18 - thereby becoming the first Vietnamese-American woman to play on the national team.

"Honestly, I didn't even know I was going to be the first until I got the notification. I was like, 'Oh my gosh!' I don't have anyone from Vietnam to look up to. I thought it was crazy. I thought maybe I could be an example for other people," Shaw told CBS17.com.

Self-proclaimed "Proud Vietnamese Queen," Shaw's cultural pride was on full display before the NC Courage vs. Chicago Stars game.

She quickly became famous for showing up to match day with a striking look – from her pink boots to her collection of sunglasses – and Shaw once again took centre stage in a traditional Vietnamese ao dai.

The perfect combination of Ao Dai and football

Jaedy Shaw in the US women's national team jersey

Photo: NWSL

"It's great to be performing at an AAPI event. I feel like it's a good time to do something," Shaw shared.

The idea for the ao dai outfit has been in the works for over a year since renowned designer Thai Nguyen contacted Shaw on Instagram about co-creating an ao dai for her to wear to a special event.

She waited for the right moment before deciding to don the Vietnamese ao dai for the occasion. Shaw worked closely with Thai Nguyen to bring the custom piece to life, combining the traditional ao dai with the modern elements of the NC Courage jersey.

The Great Combination of Jaedyn Shaw and Thai Nguyen

Photo: NWSL

“We were on a Zoom call to brainstorm ideas,” the 20-year-old recalls. “We came up with the idea of ​​taking apart a jersey, putting it inside a Vietnamese ao dai, and combining different colored fabrics that were in our jersey. It was actually very helpful because it allows you to have a lot of ideas with different colors in it.”

Jaedyn Shaw is the youngest player to score in her first game in the 2022 NWSL with San Diego Wave FC. She was named the 2022 U.S. Women's Soccer Player of the Year, playing at the 2022 U.20 Women's World Cup. She helped the San Diego Wave win the 2023 NWSL Shield - awarded to the best team of the season - before joining the North Carolina Courage in January 2025.

Jaedyn Shaw is the first player in history to score in her first five appearances for the US Women's National Team. She has now scored eight goals in 26 appearances for the US Women's National Team. As of May 2025, she has scored eight goals in 26 appearances for the US Women's National Team (USWNT).

Personal achievements:

Golden Ball at the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Golden Ball at the 2018 CONCACAF U.15 Championship.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nu-tuyen-thu-my-goc-viet-ton-vinh-ta-ao-dai-viet-nam-185250524093749949.htm