A clinical shooter, Simmonds returns to her hometown to play for the new pre-professional club at City Stadium
RICHMOND, Va. – W League RVA is thrilled to announce that Florida State University (FSU) women’s soccer forward and Midlothian, Va. native Kameron Simmonds has agreed to play for the pre-professional club in its inaugural season, pending league and federation approval.
“This opportunity means so much to me,” Simmonds said. “Not only do I get to play the game I love so close to home but I get to help grow the soccer community throughout Richmond.”
Simmonds, a sophomore, recently transferred to Florida State — the reigning NCAA Champions — after bursting onto the scene as a true freshman at the University of Tennessee.
She played in 16 matches and finished sixth on the team in points with four goals. Simmonds’ first career game-winner came against Auburn in October of 2022. She beat a defender one-on-one at the top of the box to score in the 17th minute. Her goal would be enough to carry the Lady Vols through the rest of the game to a 1-0 victory. Before that, Simmonds had earned her first collegiate goal within a month of play in the team’s shutout win over Kennedy Price and earned her first collegiate brace in Tennessee’s 4-1 win over Kentucky.
Simmonds was called up to join the Jamaican women’s national team for a World Cup preparatory friendly in South Korea on Sept. 3, 2022. This match served as her senior team debut but Simmonds previously competed in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship with the Jamaican U-20 team where she scored 2 goals. Transitioning to the senior team that fall, Simmonds competed at the 2023 Cup of Nations where Jamaica finished in fourth place.
Following her successful senior team debut, Simmonds earned a place on Jamaica’s FIFA Women’s World Cup AU/NZ 2023 roster.
In Perth, Australia, Simmonds made her World Cup debut when Jamaica defeated Panama in their second game of the group stage. Once she stepped on the pitch for the Reggae Girlz, Simmonds became the third generation of her family to represent Jamaica in senior team international football.
“Kam is an extremely talented and athletic player who is clinical in her movements and around the goal,” Sporting Director Madeline McCracken said of Simmonds’ talents. “She fits our team culture and has proven her ability to influence winning on both the collegiate and international level. With Kam leading the way up front, we are confident in the quality of the product we will have both on and off the field for the Richmond community.”
After the World Cup, Simmonds returned to collegiate play last fall for her sophomore season. She started all 18 games she appeared in, earning the team 19 points and doubling her goals to eight. Simmonds earned SEC offensive player of the week in August and scored two game winners for the Lady Vols through that season.
Now, Simmonds will use the opportunity to play pre-professional soccer in her hometown with W League RVA as she continues to prepare to help her new teammates at Florida State seek back-to-back national titles.
“Kam is a terrific player with a very bright future,” FSU Head Coach Brian Pensky said. “We are elated to have her here with us at Florida State. We’re confident that she will flourish in this environment. And thankfully Kam will have a place in Richmond, Va. to continue her play and preparations for the Fall 2024 season.”
Simmonds comes from a prominent soccer family and was a staple of youth soccer in the River City, playing for Richmond United. She is the eldest child of Greg Simmonds, the founder of FutsalRVA and a former member of the Richmond Kickers pro team. Her younger brother Nicholas played for Richmond United U17’s national title-winning team as well as the Richmond Kickers’ pro team on an academy contract.
Kam Simmonds will look to continue making her own history in the Richmond soccer community on W League RVA, bringing a relentless force to the forward line.
“Kam’s growth and development continues to be exciting to watch,” W League RVA Head Coach Kimmy Cummings said. “Her deep ties to the Richmond soccer community as well as her consistent desire to raise the performance bar will bring excitement to game days in City Stadium! She consistently proves herself as a dangerous attacking minded threat, with a strong desire to win, and I’m excited to see the impact she will have on the team.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Kam and the rest of the squad in action all season! Become a member of the Founder’s Club today for season tickets, exclusive merch and an invitation to the brand launch party. Founder’s Club memberships are on sale until March 1 so get your tickets now at https://seatgeek.com/w-league-rva-tickets/ticket-packages.
