Who is Evelyn Shores? The USWNT youth player winning NCAA titles and scoring $1 million goals

New York Times

a day ago

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.'