Shea Groom

Shea Groom
Groom with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024
Personal information
Full name Shea Ellese Groom[1]
Date of birth (1993-03-04) March 4, 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Liberty, Missouri, United States
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Red Stars
Number 10
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Texas A&M Aggies 84 (41)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 FC Kansas City 54 (17)
2018 Sky Blue FC 21 (2)
2019 Reign FC 14 (2)
2020–2023 Houston Dash 46 (4)
2024– Chicago Red Stars 0 (0)
International career
2015–2016 United States U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:37, October 16, 2023 (UTC)

Shea Ellese Groom (born March 4, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Groom played collegiate soccer for Texas A&M Aggies before starting her professional career with FC Kansas City in 2015. She was traded to Sky Blue FC after FC Kansas City ceased operations in 2018, before joining Seattle Reign FC in 2019, then joining Houston Dash in 2020. In 2024, Groom announced she would be leaving Houston Dash as a free agent and signed with the Chicago Red Stars on January 17, 2024 where she currently plays.

Groom is a former United States youth international. She received her first call-up to the full national team in October 2016 but has yet to win a cap.

Early life

Groom playing for the Liberty Jays in 2011

Born in Liberty, Missouri, to Kelly and Lesa Groom, Groom attended Liberty High School where she led the girls' soccer team to a state championship and was named Missouri's Player of the Year in 2010.[2] She was named Gatorade Missouri Player of the year twice in 2010 and 2011. Groom was a NSCAA High School Girls' All-America Soccer Team selection and named NSCAA State Player of the Year in 2010.[2] In 2011, she was named All-American by ESPN Rise.[3]

Collegiate career

Groom played collegiate soccer with Texas A&M Aggies. She capped a decorated college career with 16 goals and seven assists in 26 matches in 2014. She ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and 19th in the nation for goals, which helped her win the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award.

She recorded 41 goals and 25 assists in 84 career matches for the Aggies.[4]

Club career

FC Kansas City, 2015–2017

Groom was selected by FC Kansas City as the 12th overall pick of the 2015 NWSL College Draft.[5][6] She made her debut for Kansas City against Sky Blue FC on April 12, 2015.[7]

Shea scored her first goal for Kansas City in a 0–2 win over Houston Dash on May 2, 2015.[8]

Groom was named Player of the Week for week 13 of the 2015 National Women's Soccer League season after recording one goal and two assists against the Boston Breakers.[9] She was also named the team's rookie of the year for 2015.[10]

Groom appeared in the 2015 NWSL Championship game as a second-half substitute, FC Kansas City won the Championship with a 1–0 win over the Seattle Reign.[11]

Sky Blue FC, 2018

On December 29, 2017, it was announced that Utah Royals FC had traded Groom along with teammate Christina Gibbons to Sky Blue FC and the no. 4 overall selection in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. The New Jersey club has acquired the players in exchange for the defender Kelley O'Hara, midfielder Taylor Lytle and the no. 25 overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.[12]

Reign FC, 2019

On January 15, 2019, Reign FC acquired Groom from Sky Blue FC.[13]

Houston Dash, 2020–2023

On February 3, 2020, Houston Dash acquired Groom, Megan Oyster, and a conditional draft pick from Reign FC in exchange for Sofia Huerta and Amber Brooks.[14]

Chicago Red Stars, 2024–present

Groom signed with the Chicago Red Stars in January 2024.[15]

International career

Groom has represented the United States at various youth levels. She played for the under-23 national team at the 2015 La Manga Tournament.[16] She started in all three matches and scored the first goal of the 2–0 victory over Norway.[17]

In October 2016, Groom received her first call-up to the United States women's national soccer team for a pair of friendlies against Switzerland. She did not play in either game.[18]

Personal life

Groom's older sister, Kami, is a competitive ultimate player and has represented the United States on various national teams.[19]

Club statistics

As of October 15, 2023
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Kansas City 2015 13 4 – – 2 0 15 4
2016 19 8 – – – – 19 8
2017 22 5 – – – – 22 5
Total 54 17 0 0 2 0 56 17
Sky Blue FC 2018 21 2 – – – – 21 2
Reign FC 2019 15 2 – – 1 0 16 2
Total 26 4 0 0 1 0 27 4
Houston Dash 2020 4 3 7 3 – – 11 6
2021 24 3 4 1 – – 28 4
2022 20 1 5 1 1 0 26 2
2023 1 0 0 0 – – 1 0
Total 49 7 16 5 1 0 67 12
Career total 129 28 16 5 4 0 149 33

Honors

FC Kansas City

  • NWSL Championship: 2015

Houston Dash

  • NWSL Challenge Trophy: 2020

Individual

  • NWSL Second XI: 2016

References

  1. ^ "Shea Groom". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Shea Groom". Texas A&M University. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "Spring Girls' Soccer All-America team". ESPN. February 1, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "FC Kansas City picks Liberty graduates Shea Groom, Kaysie Clark in NWSL College Draft". kansascity. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  5. ^ "NWSL Draft Selections". ESPN. January 16, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Gier, Kathleen (January 16, 2015). "FC Kansas City picks Liberty graduates Shea Groom, Kaysie Clark in NWSL College Draft". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Shea Groom | International Sports Images". isiphotos.photoshelter.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "NWSL Week 4: Recap and Goals of the Week |". blogs.gotsoccer.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "FC KANSAS CITY SHEA GROOM VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK; Groom, 22, recorded two assists and the game-winning goal for the Blues". nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Moreno, Daniel (September 14, 2015). "FC Kansas City Announces Team Award Winners". fckansascity.com. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "FCKC CROWNED 2015 NWSL CHAMPIONS IN 1–0 WIN OVER SEATTLE". October 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sky Blue FC Acquires Shea Groom and Christina Gibbons from Utah Royals FC". Sky Blue FC. December 29, 2017. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  13. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Acquires Forward Shea Groom in Trade with Sky Blue FC". Seattle Reign FC. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  14. ^ "SOFIA HUERTA AND AMBER BROOKS ACQUIRED IN TRADE WITH DASH". Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Sign Veteran Midfielder Shea Groom". January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "2015 La Manga Tournament". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  17. ^ "FC Kansas City Signs Forward Shea Groom". Playing for 90. March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "FC Kansas City's Shea Groom gets first national team call-up". October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  19. ^ "Kami Groom".
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