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
Place of birth Liberty, Missouri, United States
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 Carolina Ascent
Number 20
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)
2024–2025 Chicago Stars 31 (2)
2026– Carolina Ascent 1 (0)
International career
2015–2016 United States U23
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:05, February 1, 2026 (UTC)

Shea Ellese Groom (born March 4, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent.

Groom played college soccer for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning first-team All-American honors in 2014, and was drafted by FC Kansas City in the second round of the 2015 NWSL College Draft. She won the NWSL Championship as a rookie and was named in the NWSL Second XI in 2016. After FCKC ceased operations in 2018, she spent one season each with Sky Blue FC and Reign FC before joining the Houston Dash, winning the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. She signed with the Chicago Red Stars as a free agent in 2024.

Groom played for the United States under-23 team and was called up to the full national team in 2016.

Early life

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]

College 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

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] She 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]

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]

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

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]

Groom signed with the Chicago Red Stars (later named Chicago Stars FC) in January 2024.[15] She recorded 31 appearances and 2 goals across two seasons before departing from Chicago at the end of 2025.[16][17]

In January 2026, Groom signed with USL Super League club Carolina Ascent.[18] She made her club debut on January 31, coming on as a second-half substitute in a defeat at the hands of Sporting JAX to open up the second half of Carolina's season.[19]

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.[20] She started in all three matches and scored the first goal of the 2–0 victory over Norway.[21]

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.[22]

Personal life

Groom's older sister, Kami, is a competitive ultimate player and has represented the United States on various national teams.[23]

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 and awards

Texas A&M Aggies

FC Kansas City

Houston Dash

Individual

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. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. 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". Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Sign Veteran Midfielder Shea Groom". January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Chicago Stars FC [@thechicagostars]; (December 22, 2025). "You'll always be part of our story. Thank you for everything! 🩵" – via Instagram.
  17. ^ Shea Groom at FBref.com
  18. ^ "Carolina Ascent FC Adds NWSL Champion Midfielder Shea Groom". Carolina Ascent FC. January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  19. ^ "Carolina Ascent Falls at Sporting Jax After Late Winner". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  20. ^ "2015 La Manga Tournament". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  21. ^ "FC Kansas City Signs Forward Shea Groom". Playing for 90. March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Kami Groom".
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