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Kealia Watt

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Kealia Ohai Watt (/keɪˈliːə/ kay-ə-LEE-ə; born Kealia Mae Ohai; January 31, 1992) is an American former professional soccer player who played for the Chicago Red Stars and the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Kealia Watt
Watt in 2014
Personal information
Full name Kealia Ohai Watt
Birth name Kealia Mae Ohai[1]
Date of birth (1992-01-31) January 31, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Draper, Utah, United States
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
2000–2010 Avalanche Soccer Club
2006–2010 Alta High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 North Carolina Tar Heels 44 (20)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2019 Houston Dash 114 (28)
2020–2021 Chicago Red Stars 28 (7)
International career‡
2010 United States U-17
2009–2012 United States U-20 24 (8)
2013 United States U-23 2 (0)
2016 United States 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of February 14, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 13, 2017

Watt played for the North Carolina Tar Heels in college, winning the NCAA championship in 2012. She represented the United States on the under-17, under-20, under-23 and senior national teams. She scored the winning goal in the final match of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Early life

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Watt was born to Ben and Cindy Ohai and raised in Draper, Utah. Her sister, Megan, is a former youth national team member who played soccer at USC where she won the 2007 NCAA championship.[2] She is part Hawaiian on her father's side.[3] Her parents named her after Kealia Beach on the island of Kauai.[4]

Watt, who graduated from Alta High School in June 2010, was a four-year varsity soccer player at the school.[5] She led the team to four straight state soccer championships from 2006 to 2009. She was a two-time Gatorade state player of the year, three-time first-team high school All-America, three-time All-State selection, three-time 5A soccer MVP, and the 2010 NSCAA National High School Player of the year.[5][6] In June 2010, she earned Parade All-American honors.[7]

As a youth, Watt also played club soccer for the Utah Avalanche. With the team, she won four state titles.[8]

College career

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A four-year starter with the Tar Heels from 2010 to 2013, Watt was a member of the 2012 championship-winning team.[9][10] She was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player after scoring the game-winning goal during overtime in the semi-final[11][12] and the first goal of the final in the second minute of the match.[9][13]

Following her freshman year playing for the Tar Heels, Watt was named to the First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ACC All-Freshman Team. She led the team in scoring with 14 goals and started 22 of the team's 24 games.[8] During her sophomore year, she started in all 20 games in which she played. She scored six goals, including a team high of 3 game-winning goals and served six assists.[5][8] In her third year with the Tar Heels, Ohai led the team in points (23) and goals (9).[5]

Club career

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Houston Dash, 2014–2019

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Ohai during a match against the Boston Breakers, August 2015

Watt was selected as the second overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash as the expansion team's very first college draft pick.[14][15] Of her draft selection, Dash head coach Randy Waldrum said, "I couldn't have asked for things to fall into place so well. It was an amazing day for the Dash. Starting with the selection of Kealia Ohai, we got one of the nation's best forwards. She has great pace, is extremely athletic, and can really stretch defenses with her speed."[16] She came second in voting for NWSL Rookie of the Year following the 2014 season.[17]

She became the club's captain midway through the 2016 season, which coincided with a scoring streak which saw her net 11 goals in 10 games. Watt was named NWSL Player of the Week for weeks 15 and 17.[18] She finished the season tied with Lynn Williams for the golden boot, Williams was given the award as she had more assists.[19] Watt was named to the 2016 NWSL Best XI.[20]

In 2017, Watt scored two goals in 10 games before tearing her ACL on June 24 in a game against the Orlando Pride. This injury would force her to miss the remainder of the 2017 season.[21]

Watt returned to the field on April 22, 2018, against the Orlando Pride. In 2018, she appeared in 19 games and scored 5 goals.[22]

Chicago Red Stars, 2020–2021

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On January 6, 2020, Watt was traded to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for defender Katie Naughton and the 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[23][24]

After the 2021 season, Watt was a free agent.[25] She did not officially announce her retirement from professional soccer and Watt's husband broke the news that she was retired from professional soccer during an interview with People in 2023, ending speculation about her return.[26][27]

International career

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Watt (top left) with the U.S. team at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, 2012.

A member of the U.S. youth national programs from the age of 13,[4] Watt has played with the under-15, under-17, under-18, under-20, and the under-23 teams.[28][29] As a member of the 2012 US U-20 Women's National Team, she won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and scored the game-winning goal in the 44th minute of the final to lead the U.S. to victory over Germany.[30][31][32]

Watt made her international debut for the senior team on October 23, 2016, against Switzerland in a friendly match in Minneapolis. She scored 48 seconds after entering the match as a substitute in the 81st minute, setting a record for the fastest goal in a US women's national team debut.[33] She received a call-up in July 2018 to the team's training camp for the 2018 Tournament of Nations, her first call-up since injuring her knee in 2017, but did not make the final roster for the tournament.[34]

Post-soccer career

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Watt was announced as a contributor and sideline analyst for Amazon's Prime Video broadcast of the NWSL in 2024.[35] Her broadcast debut was on April 12, 2024 for a match between the Dash and the Washington Spirit.[36]

Personal life

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Watt was born and raised in Utah. Her father Ben was an All-American wrestler at Brigham Young University in 1973 and 1974.[37]

Watt is legally blind in her right eye.[38] Her brother-in-law is former NFL Houston Texans player Brian Cushing.[39][40]

In October 2016, Watt confirmed that she was in a relationship with NFL player J. J. Watt.[41][42] They became engaged in May 2019.[43] They were married on February 15, 2020, in the Bahamas,[44] and Watt subsequently began using her married name.[45] On October 23, 2022, Watt gave birth to her and J.J.'s first child.[46]

On May 1, 2023, the couple were announced as new minority investors in Burnley, which earned promotion from the EFL Championship to the Premier League for the 2023–24 season.[47]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played February 13, 2022[48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Play-offs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Houston Dash 2014 NWSL 23 4 — — 23 4
2015 19 4 — — 19 4
2016 20 11 — — 20 11
2017 10 2 — — 10 2
2018 19 5 — — 19 5
2019 23 2 — — 23 2
Total 114 28 0 0 0 0 114 28
Chicago Red Stars 2020 NWSL Fall Series 4 2 6 0 — 10 2
2021 NWSL 24 5 4 0 2 0 30 5
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 28 7 10 0 2 0 40 7
Career total 142 35 10 0 2 0 154 35
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes the NWSL Playoffs

Honors

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North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team

Chicago Red Stars

United States U20

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. September 14, 2012. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Megan Ohai Profile". USC Trojans. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Boyd, John; Roepken, Corey (October 28, 2016). "Things to know about the soccer star Kealia Ohai". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Pretty Name, Dynamic Game". US Soccer. August 26, 2012. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "Kealia Ohai Biography". University of North Carolina. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "High school sports: Kealia Ohai named national player of the year". Deseret News. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  7. ^ Oram, Bill (June 15, 2010). "Alta's Kealia Ohai named to Parade's All America team". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Kealia Ohai". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "UNC women win 21st soccer title". ESPN. Associated Press. December 6, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Hays, Graham (December 3, 2012). "WINNING 21ST TITLE NO EASY FEAT FOR N. CAROLINA". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Kealia Ohai scores at 5:53 of the second OT to lift North Carolina to 1–0 win over Stanford". Fox News. December 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "Ohai lifts North Carolina past Stanford in 2OT". Boston Herald. December 1, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  13. ^ "North Carolina wins 21st NCAA women's soccer crown". USA Today. Associated Press. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  14. ^ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (January 17, 2014). "Dash get a dose of speed with UNC's Ohai". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  15. ^ "Tar Heels Dunn, Ohai go No. 1-2 in women's pro soccer draft". Herald Sun. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "Houston Dash select Kealia Ohai, Rafaelle Souza, Marissa Diggs and Jordan Jackson in 2014 NWSL College Draft". Houston Dynamo. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  17. ^ Lauletta, Dan (August 22, 2014). "Johnston wins NWSL Rookie of the Year". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kealia Ohai voted NWSL Player of the Week". August 2, 2016. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  19. ^ "Here are the winners of the NWSL MVP and other awards". October 20, 2016. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  20. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2016 Best XI". Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  21. ^ "Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai to miss the remainder of the season with left knee injury". June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  22. ^ "Kealia Ohai". Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "Red Stars Acquire Kealia Ohai". chicagoredstars.com. Chicago Red Stars. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  24. ^ "Houston Dash acquire DF Katie Naughton and 2020 NWSL Draft pick from Chicago Red Stars in trade". houstondynamo.com. Houston Dynamo. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  25. ^ "J.J. Watt's Decision to Retire Was Largely Because 'He Wanted to Be with Koa,' Says Wife Kealia". Peoplemag. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Kriger, Rachael (September 29, 2023). "Kealia Watt is officially retired, says husband J.J. in People interview – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  27. ^ "Kealia Watt Q/A: Amazon Prime's newest analyst on 10 years of the Dash and NWSL growth". Squad Depth. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "Kealia Ohai". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  29. ^ "2013 Statistics". US Soccer. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  30. ^ "U.S. Women Win U-20 World Cup". New York Times. September 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  31. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 – USA 1:0 (1:0) Germany – Report". FIFA. September 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  32. ^ "U.S. women beat Germany 1–0 to win U-20 World Cup". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  33. ^ "Lloyd leads USA to 5–1 win vs. Switzerland on record-setting day in Minneapolis". US Soccer. October 23, 2016. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  34. ^ "ELLIS CALLS 25 TO TRAINING CAMP AHEAD OF 2018 TOURNAMENT OF NATIONS". July 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  35. ^ Deitsch, Richard. "Prime Video tabs its 2024 NWSL broadcast team". The Athletic. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  36. ^ "Kealia Watt on broadcasting, being honored by Dash, perfect Hawaiian roll French toast casserole". khou.com. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  37. ^ "National Wrestling Hall of Fame: All-Americans". Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  38. ^ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (May 13, 2014). "Ohai's vision a nonissue with Dash". Houston Chronicle. Houston. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  39. ^ "Dash use No. 2 pick on Kealia Ohai, sister-in-law of Brian Cushing". Houston Chronicle. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  40. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (January 17, 2014). "Kealia Ohai lands in Houston, where family awaits". Equalizer Soccer. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  41. ^ Thompson, Dana (October 28, 2016). "Houston Dash player Kealia Ohai confirms she's dating J.J. Watt". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  42. ^ "J.J. Watt sends love to Kealia Ohai ahead of return from ACL injury". April 23, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  43. ^ Duaine Hahn, Jason (May 26, 2019). "Houston Texans Star JJ Watt Is Engaged to Kealia Ohai: 'I'm the Luckiest Man in the World'". People. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  44. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (February 15, 2020). "JJ Watt Ties the Knot! NFL Star Marries Kealia Ohai in the Bahamas — See Her Dress!". People. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  45. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Unveil 2020 Preseason Roster". Chicago Red Stars. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  46. ^ "J.J. and Kealia Watt announce birth of their son". ESPN. October 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  47. ^ "US Sporting Power Couple, NFL Star JJ Watt, and Football Pro Wife Kealia Watt, Join the Clarets Family" (Press release). Burnley F.C. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  48. ^ "Kealia Watt Stats – All Competitions". fbref. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
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