Ally Watt

Alleandra Morgan Watt (born March 12, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays as a forward for Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for North Carolina Courage, Melbourne City, and OL Reign. She has represented the United States on the under-23 and under-20 national teams.

Ally Watt
Watt, with the U-23 national team, May 2019
Personal information
Full name Alleandra Morgan Watt[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-12) March 12, 1997
Place of birth Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Orlando Pride
Number 11
Youth career
Colorado Pride
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Texas A&M Aggies 90 (49)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Melbourne City 3 (3)
2020 North Carolina Courage 0 (0)
2021–2022 OL Reign 18 (0)
2022– Orlando Pride 25 (2)
International career‡
2016–2017 United States U20 5 (2)
2016–2019 United States U23 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 15, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 15, 2022

Early life and education

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Watt attended Pine Creek High School where she was a four-year varsity track and field athlete and won state titles in the 100 Meter and 200 Meter in 2012 and 2014. She won back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014 in the 4x100 Meter and 4x200 Meter. She was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2014 Kansas Relays.[2] Watt played for the regional and state Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She was twice named Most Valuable Player at the Colorado State Cup. She played club soccer for Pride Soccer Club Predators 97 under Coach Sian Hudson.[2]

Watt attended Texas A&M University where she played collegiate soccer for the Texas A&M Aggies. While at A&M she was appointed captain of the team, and was the first Aggie to be selected for the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team twice.[3][4][5] In her four years with the Aggies, Watt competed in 90 matches, notched over 110 career points with 49 goals, including 19 game-winning goals, and 12 assists.[2] During her senior season, Watt earned All-American First Team and SEC Forward of the Year honors. She scored 16 goals with provided 11 assists to lead the team to a 14–5–3 record and reach the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament.[2] As a junior, she earned All-America and All-SEC honors and led the team in points (33) and goals (15). As a sophomore, Watt led the team in points (24) and goals (11). She earned SEC All-Tournament honors after scoring four goals against Missouri in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal the same year.[2][5]

Club career

North Carolina Courage and Melbourne City, 2020

On January 16, 2020, Watt was selected 6th overall by the North Carolina Courage in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6] She was not initially signed to the team and on January 30, 2020, she signed for Melbourne City in Australia for the remainder of the 2019–20 W-League season which ran congruently with the NWSL offseason.[7][8] She made her professional debut as a substitute on February 16, 2020, in a 4–0 win away at Melbourne Victory.[9] She scored her first goal for the club in the following matchweek against Western Sydney Wanderers.[10] Watt appeared in all five games to conclude the season including a behind-closed-doors grand final victory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watt described the match as "a little different" but "historical" before rushing to catch a flight back to America after the match due to the uncertainty of international travel.[11]

On June 19, 2020, Watt signed a two-year contract with North Carolina Courage ahead of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.[12] She made her debut for the North Carolina Courage on June 27 in the Challenge Cup but was injured in the 13th minute, suffering an ACL tear that ruled her out for the remainder of 2020 season.[13]

OL Reign, 2021–22

Watt was traded to OL Reign at the end of the 2020 season and made five appearances for the club during the 2021 season.[13] She made her debut for the club during a 3–2 win against Chicago Red Stars on October 10, 2021, which secured a berth to the NWSL Playoffs for the Reign.[14] OL Reign were ultimately eliminated in the Playoffs by eventual champion Washington Spirit.[15][16]

During the 2022 season, Watt was a starting forward in 3 the 14 games she played.[17] On July 1, her pass to Jess Fishlock who served the throughball assist to Bethany Balcer helped lift the Reign to a 2–0 win over North Carolina Courage.[18]

Orlando Pride, 2022–

On August 15, 2022, Watt was traded to Orlando Pride in exchange for $125,000 in allocation money.[13]

International career

Watt has played internationally for the United States women's national under-20 soccer team including at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea where she scored two goals.[4] In March 2015, she scored a brace against Sweden at the La Manga Tournament lifting the team to a 2–0 win.[19] In November 2017 and May 2018, she was called up to training camps for the United States women's national under-23 soccer team.[20][21] In March 2019, she was named to the U-23 team roster for the 2019 Thorns Spring Invitational, a pre-NWSL season tournament hosted by the Portland Thorns.[22]

Personal life

Watt has been in a relationship with Donavan Brazier since 2017.[23] She is of Filipina, Black and white heritage.[24]

Career statistics

Club summary
As of October 15, 2023.[25]
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Melbourne City 2019–20 W-League 33—2053
North Carolina Courage 2020 NWSL —10—10
OL Reign 2021 NWSL 40001050
2022 14071—211
Total 1807110261
Orlando Pride 2022 NWSL 6100—61
2023 19162—253
Total 2526200314
Career total 46514330638

Honors

Texas A&M Aggies

Melbourne City

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. November 8, 2016. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. "Ally Watt". Texas A&M University. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  3. "Ally Watt | Women's Soccer 2019 | Senior CLASS Award". www.seniorclassaward.com. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. "Ally Watt – Soccer". Texas A&M Athletics – Home of the 12th Man. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. "Watt signs contract with Top Tier Australia Club". KBTX. January 30, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. Doherty, Brennan (March 20, 2020). "Five Things to Know About Ally Watt Before the W-League Grand Final". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. "Melbourne City FC signs American attacker Ally Watt". Melbourne City FC. January 30, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. "'I love to hit the scoreboard': Even stronger City add deadly US striker". The Women's Game. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. "Melbourne Victory Women vs Melbourne City FC Women, Westfield W-League, Round 12, 16th Feb 2020". Westfield W-League. October 18, 2019.
  10. "Western Sydney Wanderers FC Women vs Melbourne City FC Women, Westfield W-League, Round 13, 20th Feb 2020". Westfield W-League. October 18, 2019.
  11. Brown, Travis (March 23, 2020). "As world slows to crawl amid coronavirus pandemic, Ally Watt helps Melbourne City win Australian soccer title". The Eagle. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  12. "NC Courage Signs Three NWSL Draft Picks, Agnew Ahead of Challenge Cup". NC Courage.
  13. "Orlando Pride Acquires Forward Ally Watt From OL Reign". Orlando City SC. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  14. "MATCH RECAP: OL REIGN CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT WITH WIN OVER CHICAGO". OL Reign. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  15. "Spirit Reach NWSL Final with 2–1 Win over OL Reign". Washington Spirit. November 14, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  16. Biden, President Joe. "Congratulations to the Washington Spirit on winning your first-ever NWSL championship. Despite a year with no shortage of challenges, you've made the District and your country very proud". Twitter. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  17. "Ally Watt". FotMob. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  18. "MATCH RECAP: OL REIGN BEAT COURAGE ON PRIDE NIGHT". OL Reign. July 1, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  19. "U-20 WNT vs. Sweden: Highlights – March 9, 2015". YouTube. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  20. "Arrieta and Watt attending National Team U-23 Camp". KBTX. November 29, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  21. "Roster set for U.S. U-23 Women's National Team training camp". SoccerWire. May 9, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  22. "Watt joins U.S. Soccer U23 Team for Thorns Spring Invitational". KBTX. March 20, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  23. "Congratulations on making your first world team! I'm so proud you! @DonavanBrazier #dasmyboyfriend". Twitter. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  24. Yang, Steph (July 1, 2021). "U.S. API players reflect on identity and belonging in women's soccer: 'I don't know how to put it into words'". The Athletic. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  25. "Ally Watt – Soccerway". soccerway.com.
  26. "Texas A&M wins 2017 SEC Soccer Championship". www.secsports.com.
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