Shim to be available for roster selection beginning on June 25 for Gotham FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Shim will continue to serve in her full-time role as Chair, U.S. Soccer Participant Safety Taskforce

HARRISON, NJ (June 25, 2023) – Gotham FC today announced the signing of midfielder Mana Shim to a short-term injury replacement contract. Shim is immediately available for selection beginning today for Gotham FC’s game against the Chicago Red Stars.

“I am excited to return to the NWSL as part of Gotham FC. It’s a demanding and professional environment that’s focused on players first, and they have put together an incredibly talented group that I’m honored to share the field with,” said Shim.

Across all National Women’s Soccer League competitions in her career, Shim has appeared in 85 games, with 55 starts, nine goals, nine assists, and 4,912 minutes played.

“Mana is a veteran leader who brings knowledge and experience as a fantastic addition to this great group of players,” said Gotham FC General Manager and Head of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West. “We have worked hard to create a welcoming environment for players, and we are proud that she has chosen to be a part of this club.” 

Shim previously played for the Portland Thorns and Houston Dash in the NWSL. With the Thorns, she won the first NWSL Championship in 2013, starting both playoff games, and was a member of the 2016 team that won the NWSL Shield and the 2017 team that won the NWSL Championship.

The midfielder, who initially signed with the Thorns as a Discovery player in 2013, was named Newcomer of the after scoring five goals with two assists and 17 starts in her 19 appearances. She was the first Thorns player to score in four consecutive matches.

In 2017, Shim joined Växjö DFF in Sweden, helping the club to promotion into the top league Damallsvenskan before returning to the NWSL and signing with the Houston Dash in 2018. Shim made her last NWSL appearance on June 2, 2018.

Off the field, Shim is a 2022 graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i. In 2021, she played a key part in efforts by current and former NWSL players to eradicate harassment and abuse in the league.

While Shim joins Gotham FC, she will maintain her full-time position with the U.S. Soccer Federation as Chair of the Participant Safety Taskforce. Under Shim’s leadership, U.S. Soccer is working closely with Membership in developing the Safe Soccer Clearance program, which will redefine the processes and criteria used to determine eligibility to participate in soccer in the United States. The program will have a multi-year, tiered rollout with the initial pilot phase targeting the Fall of 2023 before being introduced to the broader soccer landscape in 2024. More information on the Safe Soccer Clearance program can be found on U.S. Soccer’s Participant Safety Hub.