Kyah Pam Simon (born 25 June 1991) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur of the FA Women's Super League.
In 2011, Simon became the first Indigenous Australian player to score a goal in a FIFA World Cup. She has played for Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners, and Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australian W-League and for the Boston Breakers in the American National Women's Soccer League.
Early life
Growing up amongst a family of rugby players in Quakers Hill, New South Wales, near Sydney, Australia, Simon began playing football for the Quakers Hill under-8s and fell in love with the game. As a youth, she played for the Hills Brumbies before moving across to Penrith Nepean United. At age fifteen, she broke her leg just on the verge of earning a scholarship with the NSW Institute of Sport, but that did not deter her from pursuing her dream. She made her national debut for the Australia women's national soccer team the following year at age 16.
Club career
Simon playing for the Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast Mariners
Kyah made her debut for the Central Coast Mariners against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 25 October 2008. Kyah then made her scoring debut during Round 3 against Canberra United, scoring a double to assist the Mariners to a 2–1 win away from home.
Sydney FC
Simon joined Sydney FC for the 2009 W-League Season, playing in the first round against former club the Central Coast Mariners.
She was the top scorer in the 2010–11 W-League with 11 goals in 12 games. She also earned Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year honours.
Boston Breakers
In April 2012, Simon signed with the Boston Breakers for the first and only season of the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL Elite). She finished the season as the team's leading scorer with 12 goals and 26 points. She also ranked second in the league in the same categories. Simon logged 1,052 minutes with the Breakers and finished with two assists.
In 2013, Simon signed as a free agent with the Breakers for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.
Western Sydney Wanderers
In September 2013, Simon signed with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Return to Sydney FC
After being injured for most of the 2013–14 season and hardly playing, Simon returned to Sydney FC for the 2014 season.
Kyah Simon playing against the Japan WNT in Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo in June 2012
Return to Boston Breakers
On 30 June 2015, after leading the Australia women's national soccer team to a quarter-final of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Boston Breakers announced the signing of Kyah Simon; returning her to the National Women's Soccer League.
In January 2017, citing a need to "get my mind and body back to 100 percent health and fitness, and be ready for the next season", it was announced that Simon would not return to the Boston Breakers for the 2017 season. The Breakers retain the rights to her contract for the 2017 season.
Melbourne City
On 6 October 2017, Simon returned to Australia, joining Melbourne City.
Houston Dash
After the Breakers folded ahead of the 2018 NWSL season, the NWSL held a dispersal draft to distribute Breakers players across the league. Her rights were selected 6th overall by Houston. On 28 February, the Dash announced they signed Simon to a contract. She made her debut for the Dash on 28 April against the North Carolina Courage in a 2-0 loss. Simon scored her first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns FC on 9 May.
International career
Simon made her debut for the Australia women's national soccer team in August 2007, at the age of 16, in a match against Hong Kong. She scored her first goal in a win over Brazil in the 2008 Peace Cup. In 2010, she scored the winning penalty for Australia to win the 2010 Asian Cup.
Simon appeared at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she scored both of Australia's goals in a 2–1 win over Norway to ensure qualification for the quarter finals. She was the first male or female Indigenous Australian player to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.
In Canada during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup round of 16 match against higher ranked Brazil, Simon slotted in the winning goal on a rebound after an initial attempt by Lisa De Vanna bounced off the Brazilian goalkeeper Luciana. The Matildas qualified for a historic quarterfinal match after the 1–0 win against Brazil, however were knocked out by Japan in the quarterfinal. Simon played each of Australia's 5 matches and scored 3 goals, including both goals in a 2–0 win against Nigeria in group stage.
In popular culture
Television and film
External video
Aussies Abroad: The Matildas (ESPN) retrieved 12/18/2013
In 2013, Simon was featured in an hour-long episode of ESPN's Aussies Abroad entitled, The Matildas, which profiled four Australian national team players (Simon, Lisa De Vanna, Samantha Kerr, and Caitlin Foord) and their experience playing internationally. Simon was also one of the subjects of a football documentary titled "No Apologies" by award winning filmmaker Ashley Morrison. This documentary tells the story of two Aboriginal female footballers and their journey to the World Cup. The other footballer featured in this documentary is Lydia Williams.
Magazines
In June 2011, Simon was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo Magazine along with fellow Matilda's Melissa Barbieri, Sam Kerr, Thea Slatyer and Sarah Walsh.