And I Will Go To Texas

Shea Groom is one of the most decorated players in the history of Aggie Soccer. The Liberty, Missouri, native earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America honors in both 2013 (second team) and 2014 (first team). In 2014, she was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year as well as earning CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team accolades. Groom enters her sixth season in the National Women's Soccer League and her first campaign with the Houston Dash in 2020.


What went through your mind when you heard you were traded to the Houston Dash?
This was my third trade in three seasons, so I must admit I was pretty shocked when I got the news I would be playing in Houston. After I had some time to process, I became really excited that I would get to come "home" in a sense. Texas is such a special place for me and is where the dream of being a professional really began, so I am excited to be back.
 
Catch Aggie fans up on where you've been since graduation. What's been your favorite stop?
Well Ags, it's been a crazy one. In 2015, I was drafted by my hometown team, FC Kansas City. I played three seasons there and absolutely loved representing the city that I will always call home. After the 2017 season, our team was sold to Real Salt Lake and later became the Utah Royals. Later that offseason I was traded to New Jersey and spent one season with Sky Blue FC. Last year I played for Reign FC in Tacoma, Washington, and that has probably been my favorite stop so far just because I love the outdoors! Outside of soccer, I have been able to travel, intern and relish in a number of amazing opportunities to give back to the sport about which I am passionate. Finally, before coming to Houston, I was selected to intern with Budweiser in the inaugural NWSLxBudweiser Internship Program. I lived in NYC for seven weeks and worked with the Budweiser marketing team. Needless to say, I have been fortunate enough to have a lot of "once in a lifetime" experiences.
 
You've gone on several mission trips in recent years. Describe those trips and why they're important to you.
I believe I have a platform and with it comes a responsibility to use my gifts and abilities to give back. I have had the honor of traveling to Ethiopia to continue to grow the game of soccer through coaching clinics, youth team training, equipment donations and chaplaincy training. While there, I am also able to share my faith and develop a chaplaincy program among the professional teams in the area. My faith has been a huge part of my soccer career and the reason I am where I am today. I love being able to share my journey and the ways I have been able to navigate different moments of adversity through the game of soccer.
 
What's your favorite moment in Aggieland?
There are so many good moments to choose from, but you can't top beating Penn State to go to the College Cup. In 2010, I committed to Texas A&M. When people asked why, the first answer was usually "because I want to be the first to win a National Championship." And while sadly that didn't happen, I was still part of many firsts and that win to send us to the Final Four was incredible. So I hope there is another little girl out there still dreaming that same dream to be the first.
 
There's an extremely large photo of you celebrating a goal when you enter the soccer clubhouse. How do you feel whenever you see that?
Haha. Well, I was embarrassed for a while because, let's be honest, it's a lot. Now I feel proud. I'm proud of what my teams were able to do and proud of how I left the program when I graduated. Also, that's really the epitome of me and that picture often serves as a reminder that what I'm doing through soccer means something.
 
When you get back to visit Aggieland, what are the places you have to get to?
The first stop will always be Phil and Lori Stephenson's house because they are family to me. The next stop is Ellis Field because it's home. Then ALL the food stops - Naked Fish for sushi, my friend Roy May with Good Bull BBQ, Stella, Antonio's, The Chicken, Fuego. Although it is so different now than it was when I was there.
 
As a Kansas City girl, what was bigger – the Royals' 2015 World Series title or Chiefs' Super Bowl this season?
Don't do this to me. I grew up with a football coach, so I'll say the Chiefs' Super Bowl. I still tear up talking about it. Let's just say I ran down the streets of New York City doing the tomahawk chop after both the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl.
 
What are you doing these days to stay busy during the COVID-19 outbreak?
During COVID-19, I'm doing what probably a lot of people are doing. I'm exercising, eating, Netflixing, walking my dog Bullet and living for the moment I have/get to go to Trader Joe's to restock on groceries.
 
Possibly the most important question, how is Bullet doing?
MOST IMPORTANTLY, Bullet is doing great and is sooo excited about being back in his homeland of Texas. Crazy to think he is already 7-years-old and he's been on this entire journey with me. I'm still looking for a farm he can stay on during away trips. Applications are currently being accepted via my Instagram. @sheagroom