The four-decade history of the U.S. women's national team is bursting with splendid talent and legends of the game. It's full of brilliant attackers and ruthless finishers. It's Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers; Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd. It's Hall of Famers, soccer royalty and household names — none of whom ever did what 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw accomplished Saturday.
Shaw, in a 2-1 U.S. win over Japan, became the first player to score in each of her first five USWNT starts.
And she is a central reason that, after years of insipidity, the USWNT is fun again.