Real Salt Lake apologizes after JJ Watt calls them out for not identifying his wife Kealia, a former NWSL player
Real Salt Lake welcomed NFL great JJ Watt and former NWSL player Kealia Watt to a game on Wednesday. Just not necessarily by name.
The MLS squad found itself apologizing a day later after JJ called them out for only identifying him in a tweet welcoming the family, despite a) Kealia being the one who professionally played the sport in question; and b) growing up in nearby Draper, Utah.
JJ listed his wife's accomplishments as "probably worth a mention."
The woman in the photo grew up literally down the road, won 4 Utah state championships (1 in this exact stadium), Gatorade Player of the Year twice, National Player of the Year, scored the fastest first goal in USWNT history…
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 16, 2026
Could probably be worth a mention, but idk. https://t.co/ZJem8Nt9vo
Four hours after Watt's tweet, which did not go unnoticed by the rest of the internet, Real Salt Lake apologized for the "honest mistake" and proceeded to reel off a two-paragraph bio about Kealia's soccer career.
That career included four Utah state championships in high school, a national title at North Carolina and eight NWSL seasons between the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars.
We made an honest mistake yesterday and we are sincerely sorry for that.
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 16, 2026
When we welcomed the Watt family to America First Field, we should have recognized Kealia Watt for exactly who she is.
Kealia is a Utah native and one of the most decorated players to ever come out of this… https://t.co/6p70X3A2QBpic.twitter.com/cT2fNVv6v4
Kealia now works as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video. The couple also owns a minority stake in EFL Championship club Burnley.
Real Salt Lake defeated Burnley, 4-1, in Thursday's exhibition match.
