Home / Sports / Real Salt Lake Apologizes for 'Wife' Remark
Real Salt Lake Apologizes for 'Wife' Remark
17 Jul
Summary
- MLS team Real Salt Lake apologized for referring to Kealia Watt as only J.J. Watt's wife.
- The Watts are minority investors in English club Burnley FC, attending a match in Utah.
- Kealia Watt is a decorated Utah native with multiple state and national soccer championships.
Real Salt Lake has issued a formal apology for an oversight that referred to decorated soccer player Kealia Watt only by her husband's name. The Utah-based MLS team stated they made an honest mistake and should have recognized Kealia Watt for her own significant accomplishments.
The Watt family, including J.J. Watt and their son Koa, attended Real Salt Lake's match against English club Burnley FC, in which the Watts are minority investors. The incident highlighted the omission of Kealia Watt's extensive soccer career, which includes multiple state championships in Utah and national titles.
J.J. Watt publicly called attention to his wife's achievements, detailing her record-breaking debut goal for the USWNT and her collegiate success. Real Salt Lake's apology acknowledged her status as a Utah native and one of the state's most decorated athletes.
Kealia Watt also has a notable professional career, playing for the NWSL's Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars, and is now a soccer analyst. As minority investors in Burnley FC since 2023, the Watts have expressed interest in supporting the growth of the women's team there.
