Marissa Sheva


Marissa Maeve Sheva is a professional footballer who most plays as a forward for the Sunderland in the Women's Championship. Born and raised in the United States to an American father and an Irish-American mother, she is capped for the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

High School

Sheva graduated from Pennridge High School. While she was in high school, she was a state champion in the 1600m and 3200m. She competed at Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals

College career

Sheva played college soccer at Pennsylvania State University and as a freshman was a 2015 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament champion. She was a two-sport athlete and despite concluding her soccer career in 2018 with 13 goals in 92 appearances, she did not enter the 2019 NWSL College Draft due to finishing her track commitments.

Club career

Sheva joined Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas of Spain's Segunda División Pro in February 2020. After a single 11-minute substitute appearance, she left shortly afterwards to attend Utah Royals FC's preseason training camp. She was signed on as a rookie ahead of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Hip surgery ruled Sheva out of the 2021 season, but she joined Washington Spirit during their 2022 season. Initially signed as a short-term COVID-19 replacement player, she was later reclassified as an injury replacement player, then a national team replacement player, before being given an active roster slot in August 2022. After making eight NWSL appearances in 2022, she was given a new one-year professional contract by the club in November of that year.
On 14 March 2024, it was announced that Sheva signed joined the Portland Thorns on a one-year contract with a mutual second year option.
On 26 March 2025, it was announced that Sheva had joined English club Sunderland.

International career

Sheva alerted the Football Association of Ireland to her eligibility for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and was called up to a training camp in Marbella in February 2023. Her maternal grandparents came from County Donegal and County Tyrone. Sheva won her first cap as a half-time substitute for Abbie Larkin in a 0–0 friendly draw with China, staged at Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, on 22 February 2023.
In April 2023 Sheva started Ireland's next two fixtures, both against the United States. Sheva played on the left wing, having made her debut on the right wing. Although beaten in both games, the performance of the team and Sheva individually were viewed as encouraging by coach Pauw ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

Honors

Penn State Nittany Lions