🕯️The Gifts we Bring to the Table, and Side dishes?!

Just a few weeks ago we saw history in the making with Jayden Shaw, 21, of the Gotham FC group scoring a defining goal. As a sport enthusiast, I collect Sports cards and memorabilia from all the greatest stars in the league. It currently is a great time to understand the game of sports cards and memorabilia, especially with the FIFA2026 World cup coming to America.

Shaw, being interviewed in the photo above from, instagram.com/uswnt, ceremony with other American athletes is a sign of the amazing year she's had. This event is a wonderful mesh of project and product management. Let's dig further to prove this.

Directly after the ceremony when groups were selected for each nation, new products hit the market. When you think of this, the overall portfolio road map had to be delivered in perfect harmony, as most live events do. An example of cross functional collaboration is that new collectables with the FIFA26' Logo hit social media immediately after the ceremony. The deadlines for the product, i.e. marketing materials, and project, an engaging live event intersected with amazing team synergy. Much like Shaw and her teammates on the journey to the NWSL championship.

According to Gothamfc.com, Shaw is described as an attacking midfielder; she can lace the smoothest passed from one end of field to the other with such finesse that is something to marvel. With this being said, an attacking midfielder means she also has the green light to score, typically a Strikers role.

✍🏿Why This Matters to the PMP:

In life, we are often asked to do MORE than our role. We often find ourselves, managing up, taking on multiple roles. But our aim is always to score that goal, drive value, and achieve a verified deliverable to achieve success for our organization. 

In agile environments, it's not like we are going without a plan. We get the game plan from the coach or project sponsor but we also allow for the ability to move with fluidity so that can adjust to the openings and opportunities of the game. We face the risks and blocks, learning curves of virtual meeting for cross functional teams that aren't in the same time zones, and rapidly changing environments for ever needing stakeholders. And finally, all athletes and PMs can attest to goalpost moving or scope creep the day before deadlines. 🤢

🦸🏿Shaw the Rising Star

According to espn.com, "Jaedyn Shaw scored with practically the last kick of the game and Gotham FC beat the Orlando Pride 1-0 on Sunday to advance to the NWSL". Although the action was held at the end the game was one to watch all the way through.  

In the final moment, she steadied her breathe, got her mind right by fixing her eyes on target and lace the ball passed several defenders with Lave standing right next to her. This was foreshadowing because in the final moment of the filling game.

For the NWSL championship 🏆 Lave was the women for the job to make the final goal. A testament to how in sports and in project we don't always know the outcome but if our north star communicated effectively, we should obtain a verified deliverable. In this case a defining goal and championship celebration in through the street of New York!

Following this moment, Shaw was called up to the USWNT and had a defining goal against Italy. Building career highlights like these have Shaw poised for a fantastic career and she paves the way for other woman who dream to be footballers at the highest level.

🍜 Connect with the Author:

If you are interested in learning more about the process of grading and encasing your cards then I would suggest getting a hold of my organization’s book:

"Finding Joy: Grading your Sports Cards", By Moses Maxi, PMP 

Fantasy book series : "Soccer, strive, redemption", by Moses Maxi, PMP - 7 book series

📰 Sources 

ESPN.COM

Gothamfc.com 

Instagram.com/uswnt