Kealia Watt, the wife of former NFL star J. J. Watt, is a former professional soccer player in her own right. Before she became known as J. J. Watt’s wife, Kealia built a successful career in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), won an NCAA championship at the University of North Carolina, and represented the United States at youth and senior level. The couple married in February 2020 and now have two young sons.
Table of Contents
- Who Is Kealia Watt?
- Kealia Watt Age, Early Life and Education
- Kealia Watt Soccer Career
- J. J. Watt and Kealia Watt’s Relationship
- Kealia Watt’s Children and Family Life
- Life After Soccer: Broadcasting and Burnley
- Kealia Watt Net Worth
- Interesting Facts About Kealia Watt
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Kealia Watt?
Kealia Mae Ohai Watt is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder and forward in the NWSL for the Houston Dash and the Chicago Red Stars. She was one of the brightest young American players of her generation, winning the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with the United States and later earning senior national team caps.
Kealia is married to J. J. Watt, the former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals defensive end and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The pair are one of American sport’s best-known couples, and since 2023 they have also been minority investors in English football club Burnley.
Kealia Watt Age, Early Life and Education
Kealia Watt was born Kealia Mae Ohai on January 31, 1992, in Draper, Utah, to parents Ben and Cindy Ohai. As of 2026, she is 34 years old. She grew up playing youth soccer for the Utah Avalanche and starred at Alta High School, where she was a four-year varsity player and a two-time Gatorade state player of the year.
She played college soccer at the University of North Carolina from 2010 to 2013, helping the Tar Heels win the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. Her performances at college level marked her out as one of the top prospects in the American game.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kealia Mae Ohai Watt |
| Date of birth | January 31, 1992 |
| Age (2026) | 34 years old |
| Birthplace | Draper, Utah, United States |
| College | University of North Carolina |
| Profession | Former professional soccer player, broadcaster |
| Former teams | Houston Dash, Chicago Red Stars |
| Husband | J. J. Watt |
| Marriage | February 15, 2020 |
| Children | Koa James Watt, Niko Benjamin Watt |
Kealia Watt Soccer Career
Kealia’s international breakthrough came at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, where she scored the winning goal in the final as the United States lifted the trophy. She went on to represent the U.S. at under-17, under-20, under-23 and senior level, earning three senior caps.
She was selected second overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash and spent six seasons with the club, making 114 league appearances and scoring 28 goals. She was named to the NWSL Best XI in 2016 and won the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup with Houston. In 2020 she was traded to the Chicago Red Stars, where she played until 2021. Across her professional career she made more than 140 league appearances.
What many profiles of Kealia miss is how decorated her own career was before marriage: an NCAA title, a World Cup winners’ medal at youth level, a top-two draft pick and a place among the NWSL’s best players in 2016. Her story is a soccer career in its own right, not just a footnote to her husband’s.
J. J. Watt and Kealia Watt’s Relationship
Kealia and J. J. Watt confirmed their relationship in October 2016. J. J. Watt, born March 22, 1989, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, was then the star defensive end of the Houston Texans, the same city where Kealia played for the Dash. The couple became engaged in May 2019 and married on February 15, 2020, at The Ocean Club in the Bahamas.
J. J. Watt played 12 NFL seasons, 10 with the Houston Texans and two with the Arizona Cardinals, before retiring after the 2022 season. He is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and now works as a television analyst.
Kealia Watt’s Children and Family Life
Kealia and J. J. Watt have two sons. Their first son, Koa James Watt, was born on October 23, 2022. Their second son, Niko Benjamin Watt, was born on June 14, 2025.
One remarkable detail about Kealia is that she is legally blind in her right eye, a fact that makes her professional soccer career all the more extraordinary. Her brother-in-law is former NFL linebacker Brian Cushing, who is married to Kealia’s sister Megan.
Life After Soccer: Broadcasting and Burnley
Kealia did not formally announce her retirement, but her husband confirmed in a 2023 interview that she had stepped away from professional soccer. Since then she has moved into sports broadcasting, including work around NWSL coverage, drawing on her experience as a former player.
In May 2023, Kealia and J. J. Watt were announced as minority investors in Burnley Football Club, the English club that had just earned promotion to the Premier League. The investment marked the couple’s move from the pitch into football ownership.
Kealia Watt Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Kealia Watt’s personal net worth. Her earnings came from her NWSL career, national team appearances and later broadcasting work. Her husband J. J. Watt earned well over $100 million in NFL salary during his career, and widely reported estimates place his net worth at around $80 million, though such figures are estimates rather than confirmed financial statements. The couple’s combined wealth also includes their stake in Burnley.
Interesting Facts About Kealia Watt
- Kealia scored the winning goal in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final.
- She was the second overall pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft.
- She won the NCAA championship with North Carolina in 2012.
- She is legally blind in her right eye.
- She and J. J. Watt married in the Bahamas in February 2020.
- She is a minority owner of Burnley Football Club alongside her husband.
- Her sons Koa and Niko were born in 2022 and 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is J. J. Watt’s wife?
J. J. Watt is married to Kealia Watt, a former professional soccer player who played for the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL and represented the United States internationally.
How old is Kealia Watt?
Kealia Watt was born on January 31, 1992, which makes her 34 years old as of 2026.
When did J. J. Watt and Kealia Watt get married?
The couple married on February 15, 2020, in a ceremony at The Ocean Club in the Bahamas.
How many children do J. J. and Kealia Watt have?
They have two sons: Koa James Watt, born in October 2022, and Niko Benjamin Watt, born in June 2025.
Did Kealia Watt play for the U.S. national team?
Yes. She represented the United States at under-17, under-20, under-23 and senior level, and won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Sources: Kealia Ohai Watt on Wikipedia; ComingSoon on J. J. Watt’s wife and family.
