Latest news with #EvelynShores
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Angel City bets on future, signing Evelyn Shores: ‘When we break through, it's going to be spectacular'
Midfielder Evelyn Shores made headlines with her million-dollar goal at The Soccer Tournament (TST) this year in Cary, North Carolina, and her last-minute winner for the under-23 U.S. women's national team in Germany two weeks earlier. Now, the 20-year-old is choosing to leave the University of North Carolina early to join Angel City FC in Los Angeles. After speaking with several NWSL teams, the young midfielder visited Angel City three weeks ago, toured the facilities, attended a match at the club's BMO Stadium and knew LA was where she wanted to begin her professional career. 'Everyone was super welcoming,' Shores tells The Athletic. 'It felt like home away from home. It just made me really want to be a part of what's going on here.' Shores joins a club in transition. Since arriving in January, sporting director Mark Parsons has laid out a three-year roadmap for the evolution of a team that's only in its fourth season of NWSL play: excitement and promise by the end of 2025, trophy contention by 2026 and titles in hand by 2027 — in perpetuity, of course. Advertisement 'Evelyn had a lot of options,' Parsons tells The Athletic. 'But she saw what we're building here, what's still underground, and decided to start her career with us. And not in January, like we expected, but six months earlier.' Her choice to join the club this summer rather than wait until after the 2025 NCAA season concludes in December was unexpected but not surprising. 'I had a great conversation with (Angel City head coach) Alex (Straus),' she explained. 'He's super-knowledgeable, and he seems like he is going in a great direction with the club, so I'm really excited to get on the field and play for him.' Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Shores played both midfield and full-back at youth national team level and impressed coaches with her game-reading ability, positional awareness and confidence in high-pressure moments. Her standout performance in last year's NCAA tournament, which culminated in the 23rd College Cup title for the North Carolina program, caught the attention of long-time USWNT midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who invited her to join the U.S. women's team at this summer's TST. 'Her ability to receive the ball and know where she wants to go, to be able to link play with passes, be able to break lines with passes, to be able to break lines on the dribble and get into areas too, where she's gone from building the attack to creating opportunities,' Parsons says of Shores' strengths. 'And most importantly, she plays with purpose.' Leaving college early was not an easy decision. 'But at the end of the day, I wanted to be a part of what they have going on here in LA, and that was the best decision for me at the time,' Shores says. She is planning to finish her degree by taking online classes. Shores is the latest addition to Angel City's youth-focused rebuild. This year, the club has also brought in standout rookie forward Riley Tiernan, Brazilian midfielder Maiara Niehues and defender Savy King — all are 22 or under. Angel City leads the 2025 NWSL in minutes given to players in that age bracket. The young core is led by sisters Gisele (aged 19) and Alyssa Thompson (20), both LA natives. Advertisement Shores doesn't hide her excitement about joining Angel City. Her former North Carolina teammate Savvy King and fellow under-23 national team players in the Thompson sisters and Tiernan all add a sense of familiarity to the move. She's also excited to share a locker room with one of her longtime idols, Christen Press. 'It's not just about getting younger for the sake of it,' Parsons says. 'We need balance — veterans who've seen everything and kids who don't even notice pressure. But we've cut our average roster age down to around 25, and we're giving our young players real, meaningful minutes.' Parsons sees every appearance by Tiernan or King as an investment not just in their own development as players, but in the club's long-term value creation strategy: 'If we're doing this right, when a player does eventually move on, it's not for less than we brought them in for. That's how smart clubs operate globally.' At the midway point of the regular season, Angel City's growing pains have been visible, especially after losing key players King and Claire Emslie to injuries. Though the team currently sits 11th (of 14) in the table, three points outside of the eight playoff spots, Parsons is unfazed. 'Yeah, we've taken some hits, but that's the cost of building something real,' he says. If that sounds like someone playing a long game, it's because he is: 'I told the staff that we're in the tunnel, digging. Not much oxygen, no sunlight, but we're getting close. And when we break through, it's going to be spectacular.' Shores agrees. Her early arrival signals not just her ambition, but a belief that Angel City's future is worth betting on.
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Who is Evelyn Shores? The USWNT youth player winning NCAA titles and scoring $1 million goals
University of North Carolina midfielder Evelyn Shores isn't taking a break this summer. Six months after helping the Tar Heels capture their 23rd NCAA title, she scored the winning goal last month for the U.S. women's national team under-23s against Germany. And on Monday, she found the back of the net again, winning $1 million for the US Women at The Soccer Tournament (TST) just miles from her university. Advertisement Recruited by former U.S. midfielder Heather O'Reilly, 20 years her senior, Shores joined a team of legends, including O'Reilly, Carli Lloyd and Ali Krieger, for the seven-a-side, winner-takes-all competition. 'I was sprinting back to recover on defense, saw Heather (O'Reilly) win the ball, and just went. I was exhausted, but I had to go,' Shores told The Athletic. 'She put it on a platter for me. I had to finish it.' A post shared by TST (@tst7v7) Still jetlagged from her trip to Germany with the USWNT U-23 team, Shores went straight to training alongside players she'd watched win World Cups and Olympic gold medals. 'Playing 1v1s in practice with Carli Lloyd the day after flying in from Germany? That was insane,' she said. 'They made us feel like equals. That was the craziest part.' She was one of the five UNC players O'Reilly invited to join her and the other World Cup winners at TST, which takes place over a week in Cary, North Carolina. 'I have always liked Evelyn as a player from the first minute I saw her play at Carolina,' O'Reilly told The Athletic. 'Thrilled that she had that goal because she had a very good tournament and does a lot of nuanced work for the team that maybe isn't flashy, but she had her moment, and we are all so happy about that.' For Shores, TST was a refreshing change of pace. 'It's such a fun tournament,' she said. 'The ball moves fast, everyone's pressing, you sub out the second you're tired, and fans are basically on top of the field. It's a different kind of soccer — and maybe more exciting for people who aren't into the traditional 11v11.' The 20-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, began her soccer journey at age four at Tophat FC, an elite youth academy in Georgia. For Shores, soccer is a family tradition. Her mom, a former Tar Heel, was her first coach. Her grandpa coached her mom. 'I wrote a letter to myself in fifth grade saying I hoped I'd get a scholarship to UNC. I committed in eighth grade,' Shores said. 'I always knew I wanted to come here.' Advertisement That commitment has paid off. In her freshman year, she appeared in 13 matches, finishing her rookie season ranked third on the team with four goals, three assists and 11 points to lead all UNC freshmen. She scored her first college brace in a three-minute stretch against USC, which was also her first goal. But in October of her freshman year, her promising first season came to a halt. While attempting a tackle near the sideline against Wake Forest, she got tangled up with a player and collapsed, clutching her right knee, unable to stand on her own. Five days later, she announced that she tore her ACL and that her season was over. Amid the heartbreak, she had support from her family and friends throughout her recovery and she counted the days to her comeback. After two surgeries and a difficult rehabilitation period, she returned from injury in 2024 to play in the final 10 games of the season, with her first appearance back against No. 1 Duke in the regular season finale. 'My first goal back from my injury was very special,' she told The Athletic. She scored against UNC's biggest rival with her left foot in the 44th minute. 'After such a long time off the field, coming back and scoring was like a huge deal to me,' she said. Announcing herself with a goal is a habit now. When Shores was named to the USWNT U-23 camp last month, she was the only player not signed to a professional contract. But that didn't matter on the field. In the final minute of stoppage time on May 30, after a scramble in the box, Seattle Reign center back Jordyn Bugg lifted a ball over Germany's defense. Shores found the end of the looping pass and one-timed the ball into the net. 'It was a surreal experience,' Shores told The Athletic. 'Honestly, I couldn't even really celebrate after the goal, because I was just so relieved.' The U.S. split results during the window, and Shores flew directly back to North Carolina to represent the U.S. in a different capacity. She, again, introduced herself with a game-winning goal. A post shared by Evelyn Shores (@evelynshores) For now, Shores is focused on a healthy return, another trip to the NCAA College Cup, and if the stars align, TST again next year. As for the $1 million she helped win, for not just herself but the players she's looked up to? Unfortunately for Shores, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from accepting prize money. Advertisement 'I'm not actually sure where my portion goes,' she said with a shrug. 'But I'm just happy to be a part of it.' A spokesperson for TST confirmed that the money that could not be awarded to the college players was divided evenly among the rest of the group. While her TST goal may be the most high-profile moment yet, it's likely just the beginning for the rising college junior. She's still undecided about whether she'll pursue a professional career in the U.S. or abroad, but one thing's clear: she's got options. 'I've always wanted to be a pro. That's been the dream since I was little,' she said. 'This will be my first healthy preseason in a while,' Shores said, speaking about her immediate future. 'Just being back on the field, competing, playing with teammates I love, it's all been surreal.'
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
US Women won $1M tonight. Huh? Plus: Boston Legacy gets a much-needed win
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. 'Hi guys, I'm back. Did you miss me? Because I missed you.' — Kim Kardashian, but also NWSL after the international window. Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin and Jeff Rueter — welcome to Full Time! US Women win $1 million Last week, Carli Lloyd scored a stunning game-winning goal and Hope Solo made a diving save. Tonight, the US Women captured another title. Wait, what? Don't turn that dial! You are still in the right newsletter. While Solo's team, Solo FC, fell in the quarterfinals this year, Lloyd and US Women beat Bumpy Pitch FC — headlined by former Gotham FC midfielder McCall Zerboni — in tonight's final to go back-to-back. Twenty-year-old University of North Carolina midfielder Evelyn Shores scored the million-dollar goal. EVELYN SHORES SCORES THE ONE MILLION DOLLAR GOAL ASSISTED BY HEATHER O'REILLY!!!!!!! US WOMEN ARE YOUR TST 2025 WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! BACK-TO-BACK!!!!!!!! — TST (@TST7v7) June 10, 2025 The goal adds to Shore's recent success, which includes being the only college player called into the USWNT under-23 camp last month and scoring the winning goal in the team's friendly against Germany on May 30. Spearheaded by the energizer bunny of the USWNT, Heather O'Reilly, US Women have become a mix of the legends you know and the youth players you should know. Game of the weekend Despite several players having just returned from various trips with their national teams, this weekend's NWSL action did not suffer. There were big goals and plenty of lead changes. However, Saturday's 2-2 draw between Angel City FC and the Chicago Stars had the goal of the week … and maybe the year. Just watch Ally Schlegel's go-head goal for yourself: A post shared by National Women's Soccer League (@nwsl) Angel City's first match under new head coach Alexander Straus had a lot of layers to it. Thankfully Tamerra is here to sum it up: Twenty-year-old defender Savy King returned to BMO Stadium for the first time since she collapsed during a game on May 9 and was rushed to the hospital. King, the No. 2 draft pick in 2024, underwent surgery and was discharged on May 18. Advertisement Shortly after kickoff Saturday, the in-stadium video screen and ION broadcast panned to a smiling King, who waved to the crowd and made the shape of a heart with her hands. She joined her teammates on the pitch after the match as well. Angel City midfielder Kennedy Fuller, one of the night's goal scorers, said after the game that it was great 'to be able to see her so healthy and happy.' On the field, there were a few moments that made me wonder whether Straus, who joined Angel City from Bayern Munich, would be subject to the same rude awakening the NWSL has previously dealt European coaches. Sharing points with the team currently sitting bottom of the table isn't exactly the ideal impression a new manager wants to set, but for what it was worth, Straus seemed to enjoy his first NWSL experience. NWSL adds new rules As Dua Lipa once said: 'I got new rules, I count 'em.' On Thursday, the NWSL announced a change to its rulebook that allows its teams to loan players to clubs within the league. Loans were already a growing part of the league's sporting operation, with many clubs sending young players to temporary stops in the USL Super League and other circuits. Jeff explains that this change is a big one. Clubs sending players on loan can still ensure they'll be part of their plans at the end of the season when their loans expire — if they're under contracts. Teams acquiring loanees, as soon as the window opens on July 1, can round out their rosters by bringing in players for less than their full wage, with the loaning team covering the rest. Players have even more options available for their development, meaning a rookie could sign with a contender out of college and still have a path to starting NWSL minutes in their first season. Following the reveal of Boston Legacy FC's new crest Saturday, there's been no drama (whew) — just a range of solidly positive (or at the very least, neutral) reactions to the badge. It looked like a great party, too, despite the rain on Boston Common. They even had a fully wrapped Duck Boat. Peak Boston. I spoke to designer Matthew Wolff and managing owner Jennifer Epstein before the launch. You can take a look for yourself at the new design details here. The swan and its history in the area are big, but it's the details — including a nod to the original eight NWSL clubs, represented by the number of feathers on the swan (and their angles designed to reflect the Zakim Bridge) — that make the crest stand out. It's a big win for the Legacy, one that they've needed. The club also told me it did mid-five-figure sales in merch on launch day and picked up over 100 new season ticket deposits at Saturday's event. It's not just a momentum swing in the right direction, roughly eight months out from the team's inaugural preseason — it's a new bridge to building trust and relationships with the community of Boston. 📊 Time to let us know how you feel. What do you think of Boston's new look? Giráldez's farewell tour in Washington Jonatan Giráldez won the first of his last three games in charge of the Washington Spirit yesterday, a 3-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage (who were without head coach Sean Nahas due to medical reasons). It was Giráldez's last game at Audi Field. The reception was largely positive — though there were chants for assistant Adrián González, who would take on Giráldez's job at the end of the match — but winning helps that. Advertisement On Friday, Giráldez called his midseason departure to lead OL Lyonnes 'not ideal,' but encouraged fans and players to 'keep working' and supporting the team. If you are still trying to make sense of the structure that allows Giráldez to move so swiftly from owner Michele Kang's Spirit in D.C. to OL Lyonnes in France, Asli Pelit broke down the business of multi-club ownership and why it's growing in popularity. England roster set We knew who wasn't going before we knew who was. A trio of England exits ahead of Euro 2025 brought an air of uncertainty to head coach Sarina Wiegman's 23-player selection for the 2025 European Championship this summer. Still, the core Wiegman has been building on the field remains, and we now know the full team going to Switzerland to defend its Euros crown. View our full roster analysis. Changing coaches: Tottenham Hotspur parted ways with women's team head coach Robert Vilahamn over the weekend. The decision follows men's team head coach Ange Postecoglou leaving Spurs, just 16 days after winning the Europa League final. Transfer talks: Chloe Kelly has already been through a transfer saga this year with her loan from City to Arsenal in January. Now, with those terms winding down, Arsenal have confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the 27-year-old goal scorer for a new contract. Kelly was key to Arsenal's Champions League final victory. Hungry Becky Eyes: Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn got a hometown hero's welcome last week at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo., as the U.S. defeated Jamaica 4-0. We've known about her leadership, but hearing about the look she gives players after a mistake felt too relatable. 'Becky doesn't get mad often, but if you mess up,' former teammate and friend Lynn Biyendolo said, 'she'll give you this look, that 'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed' look. That's the Becky look.' 🗳️ Send us your questions: We are answering your questions on the 'Full Time' podcast next week. Email us your burning queries and you may hear them answered on next week's episode. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
US Women win TST title and its $1 million prize for second straight year
The US Women are back-to-back winners of the $1 million The Soccer Tournament (TST) prize thanks to a goal from 20-year-old University of North Carolina midfielder Evelyn Shores. The US Women won 3-0 against Bumpy Pitch FC on Monday in target score time. 'I feel so surreal. It was such a team effort. This has been so fun all around. I'm just so glad I could help us win it,' Shores said after the win. 'They've been great this entire week, just getting us in the team, making us feel comfortable.' EVELYN SHORES SCORES THE ONE MILLION DOLLAR GOAL ASSISTED BY HEATHER O'REILLY!!!!!!! US WOMEN ARE YOUR TST 2025 WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! BACK-TO-BACK!!!!!!!! — TST (@TST7v7) June 10, 2025 The seven-a-side, winner-takes-all competition has become a playground for former and young players alike. And thanks to captain Heather O'Reilly, it's become a regular chance for USWNT legends to make their return. After winning the tournament last year, O'Reilly again assembled a team that included Carli Lloyd, Ali Krieger and Jill Loyden among five UNC players, including Shores. Advertisement Founded by TBT Enterprises, which also created The Basketball Tournament, TST has grown from a quirky offseason tournament into a potential model for a fast-paced version of soccer mostly consumed by younger fans. The tournament was unveiled in 2022 with 32 men's teams. TST added the women's tournament in 2024 and doubled the size of the women's side this year, expanding from eight to 16 teams after receiving more than 50 applications. The tournament signed a broadcast deal with ESPN and, on the women's side, signed with RBC Wealth Management as the main sponsor. In its third year, 48 men's and 16 women's teams competed in games played on a smaller field with a fast-paced format designed to maximize entertainment. The games didn't end after full time, either. With the target score time reached, the game finished with both teams trying to reach a score determined by adding one to the leading team's score after the full-time whistle. In target score time, players are slowly taken off the field until they reach 2v2, if necessary. With 4-on-4 and up 2-0, O'Reilly found the foot of Shores for the winning goal. The goal adds to Shore's recent success, which includes being the only college player called into the USWNT under-23 camp last month and scoring the winning goal in the team's friendly against Germany on May 30. (Photo courtesy of The Soccer Tournament)
