Real Salt Lake issued an apology after failing to acknowledge the soccer achievements of Kealia Watt, wife of former NFL star J.J. Watt, during a recent exhibition match. The MLS club welcomed the Watt family to their game against Burnley F.C. on Wednesday but mentioned only J.J. Watt by name in their social media post, overlooking Kealia’s significant contributions to women’s soccer.
Raised in Utah, Kealia Watt boasts an impressive soccer background that includes winning the U-20 World Cup with the United States Women’s National Team and an eight-season career in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Despite these accolades, none were initially recognized by Real Salt Lake in their public announcement.
J.J. Watt Highlights Wife’s Overlooked Soccer Career
Following the oversight, J.J. Watt took to social media to highlight his wife’s achievements, emphasizing that her accomplishments deserved recognition. He pointed out that Kealia grew up nearby, won four Utah state championships—including one in the same stadium where the game took place—and was honored twice as Gatorade Player of the Year. He also noted her record for the fastest goal scored in USWNT history.
Kealia’s soccer journey includes securing four consecutive Utah state titles during her youth and receiving two Gatorade Player of the Year awards, establishing her as one of the top young talents in the country. Most notably, she played a crucial role in the United States’ triumph at the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup, netting the winning goal against Germany in the final.
Beyond her playing career, Kealia Watt has transitioned into a role as a sports analyst for Amazon Prime, continuing her involvement in the sport from a broadcasting perspective. After the public response, Real Salt Lake acknowledged their mistake and issued an apology for the initial omission.