Southland Conference Midfielder of the Year Ava Shannon transfers to Houston

HOUSTON – Southland Conference Midfielder of the Year, Ava Shannon, joins the University of Houston Soccer program from Stephen F. Austin State University as a junior in 2025, Head Coach Ben Williams announced.

“Bringing Ava home to Houston is something special,” Williams said. “She’s a proven competitor with an incredible engine, technical ability, and sharp tactical awareness. Adding an accomplished player who’s earned All-Conference honors the past two seasons—including being named Midfielder of the Year last year—speaks to her consistent impact on the field.

She’s shown she can create chances, score goals, and control the tempo at a high level. We’re thrilled to have her join Cougar Soccer and proudly represent her hometown.”

Last season at SFA, Shannon started all 19 matched in her 1,453 minutes played. The midfielder scored six goals and dished five assists including the game-winning assist in the Southland Conference Championship match to garner All-Tournament Team honors.

As a freshman, the Atascocita, Texas, native started 18 matches tallying one goal, three assists and five points while being named to the WAC All-Freshman Team and a WAC Top Freshman to Watch.

Shannon played club for Houston Dash GA and was a four-star prospect according to Top Drawer. She was tabbed as the 125th ranked player and the 47th midfielder in the country coming out of high school.

Ava comes from a soccer family as father John played collegiate soccer at UMass before playing professionally, sister, Danielle plays at LSU, and brothers Matthew and Jack both play in MLS Next.