Real Salt Lake Soccer Team Issues Formal Apology for Snubbing JJ Watt's Wife, Kealia: A Champion in Her Own Right

Kealia Watt, the wife of former NFL star JJ Watt, is a name that is well-known in the world of soccer. A Utah native, Kealia has had a storied career, filled with numerous accolades and achievements. She grew up literally down the road from the stadium where Real Salt Lake plays their home games, won four Utah state championships, and even scored the fastest first goal in USWNT history.

Despite her impressive resume, Kealia's accomplishments were seemingly overlooked by the Real Salt Lake team when they welcomed the Watt family to the stadium. In a social media post, the team failed to recognize Kealia for who she is - a highly decorated player and a champion in her own right. The post, which was captioned "Welcome to the Riot, JJ Watt and fam," sparked immediate backlash from fans and social media users, who pointed out the glaring omission.

JJ Watt was quick to call out the Real Salt Lake team for their mistake, tweeting "The woman in the photo grew up literally down the road, won four Utah state championships (one in this exact stadium), Gatorade Player of the Year twice, National Player of the Year, scored the fastest first goal in USWNT history... Could probably be worth a mention, but I don't know." The tweet was a clear shot across the bow, calling out the team for their mistake and demanding that they acknowledge Kealia's achievements.

It didn't take long for the Real Salt Lake team to respond, issuing a formal apology and acknowledging their mistake. In a statement, the team said "We made an honest mistake yesterday and we are sincerely sorry for that. 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 state."

The team went on to list off Kealia's numerous accomplishments, including her four state championships, two Gatorade Player of the Year awards, and her stint as a U.S. youth national teamer at just 13 years old. They also acknowledged her impressive college career, which included a national title with the North Carolina Tar Heels and a stint as captain for the Houston Dash.

It's clear that Kealia Watt is a talented and accomplished athlete in her own right, and her omission from the Real Salt Lake team's social media post was a mistake. By apologizing and acknowledging her achievements, the team has shown that they value and respect her contributions to the sport.

As for JJ Watt, he's been outspoken about the importance of recognition and respect for women's sports. In a recent interview, he said "Women's sports are just as important as men's sports. We need to do a better job of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women athletes." Given his support for women's sports, it's no surprise that he was quick to call out the Real Salt Lake team for their mistake.

The Real Salt Lake team's apology is a welcome step in the right direction, but it's also a reminder that there's still work to be done in terms of recognizing and celebrating women's sports. By acknowledging Kealia's achievements and apologizing for their mistake, the team has shown that they're committed to getting it right in the future.

As the sports world continues to evolve and grow, it's essential that we recognize and celebrate the achievements of women athletes like Kealia Watt. By doing so, we can work towards a future where women's sports are just as valued and respected as men's sports.