The Houston Dash and forward Shea Groomhave agreed to a new three-year contract, the club announced today. The contract will keep Groom with the club through the 2023 season.
“I’ve been looking for a home in this league for the past three seasons now and that’s what Houston feels like to me – home,” Groom said. “It’s an honor to represent a city that reflects the same grit and resiliency I try to embody as a player and I can’t wait to win more championships with this organization. Dash on baby, and gig’em forever!”
The Texas A&M alumna joined the Dash in February of the 2020 season.The forward played a key part in Houston’s 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship run, making an appearance in every game and scoring three goals throughout the tournament, including the goal that clinched the club’s first league title in the final against Chicago Red Stars. Groom tied Dash captain Rachel Daly and North Carolina forward Lynn Williams for the tournament scoring lead with three goals.
“I’m delighted that Shea has committed her future to the Dash,” said Head Coach James Clarkson. “She’s had a huge positive impact on the group this year, and I’m really excited about the future.”
Groom started her professional career in the NWSL in 2015 as the 12th overall pick in the NWSL College Draft by FC Kansas City. Groom scored 17 goals in her first two seasons before being traded to Sky Blue FC, where she scored two goals in 21 appearances in 2018. The former Aggie All-American spent the 2019 season with Reign FC, scoring two goals in 15 appearances.
The Missouri native spent her four-year collegiate career at Texas A&M University where she led the Aggies to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Women’s College Cup in 2014. Groom capped a decorated career with 16 goals and seven assists in 26 matches as a senior that season. Throughout her four years in College Station, the forward scored 41 goals and started in 80 of 85 appearances.
Groom made her international debut with the United States Women’s Under-23 team in the 2015 La Manga Tournament where she started in all three games, scoring the first goal of a 2-0 victory against Norway. The 26-year-old earned her first call-up with the senior U.S. Women’s National Team for a pair of friendlies against Switzerland in October of 2016.
The Houston Dash will return to competition on Friday, Sept. 11 when they visit the 2019 NWSL Cup champion North Carolina Courage as part of the NWSL fall series. The fall series consists of 18 matches over the course of seven weeks, with the league’s nine teams divided into three three-team pods. Houston was grouped with North Carolina and the Orlando Pride. The match at North Carolina is set for a 6 p.m. CDT kickoff and will be streamed live on Twitch. The remainder of Houston’s schedule will be announced in the coming days.
