Heather Mitts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Heather Mitts

Mitts in May 2010
Personal information
Full name	Heather Mitts Feeley
Date of birth	(1978-06-09) June 9, 1978 (age 47)
Place of birth	Cincinnati, Ohio
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Playing position	Defender / Right back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000	Tampa Bay Extreme
2001–2003	Philadelphia Charge	51	(0)
2005	Central Florida Krush	4	(0)
2009	Boston Breakers	19	(0)
2010	Philadelphia Independence	17	(0)
2011	Atlanta Beat	8	(0)
2013	Boston Breakers	0	(0)
National team
1999–2012	United States	137	(2)
Honours Women's football Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Team competition Gold 2008 Beijing Team competition Gold 2012 London Team competition FIFA Women's World Cup Silver 2011 Germany Team competition
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Heather Mitts Feeley (born Heather Blaine Mitts; June 9, 1978) is a famous American soccer player. She played as a defender. Heather was a key player for the U.S. women's national team. She won three Olympic gold medals! Heather also played professionally in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league. She retired from soccer in 2013.

Early Life and High School Soccer

Heather Mitts was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 9, 1978. She started playing soccer when she was just six years old. From 1993 to 1996, she went to St. Ursula Academy. Her high school team had an amazing record of 70 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. During her first year, the team won the state championship. In her junior and senior years, Heather earned special honors for her skills.

Playing for the Florida Gators

Heather received a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Florida. She played for the Florida Gators women's soccer team from 1996 to 1999. Heather was a strong defender for the Gators. She helped them win their first-ever NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in 1998. She was recognized as an All-American player in both 1998 and 1999. Heather holds records for playing in the most games (95) and starting the most games (94) for the Gators. She finished college in 2000 with a degree in advertising. In 2013, she was added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional Soccer Career

After college, Heather Mitts played for several professional soccer teams. She was known for her strong defense.

Early Professional Teams

In 2000, Heather played for Tampa Bay Extreme in the W-League. This was while she waited for a new league, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), to start. In 2001, she joined the Philadelphia Charge. She played in many games for the Charge over three seasons. She was even named a WUSA All-Star in 2003. Sadly, the WUSA league stopped playing after the 2003 season. In 2005, Heather played a few games for Central Florida Krush. She was also busy playing for the U.S. National Team at that time.

Playing in the WPS League

When the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league began, Heather joined the Boston Breakers in 2009. She started in 19 games for them. After that season, she became a free agent. In 2009, Heather signed with the Philadelphia Independence. This was a new team in the WPS league. It was exciting for her to play professional soccer in Philadelphia again. In 2011, she moved to the Atlanta Beat. She played as a right defensive back for them.

Retirement from Club Soccer

In 2013, Heather was assigned to the Boston Breakers in the new National Women's Soccer League. However, she decided to retire from playing before the season started.

International Career with Team USA

Heather Mitts played for the United States women's national soccer team in over 100 international matches. She is famous for winning three Olympic gold medals. She won them in 2004, 2008, and 2012.

In 2007, Heather got a serious knee injury during a friendly match against Canada. This injury meant she could not play in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. But she recovered and continued to play for her country.

In 2011, Heather was chosen to be on the U.S. team for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. The U.S. team finished second in that tournament. She also played for the U.S. team in the 2012 London Olympics. She played the full 90 minutes in a match against Colombia.

On March 13, 2013, Heather officially announced her retirement from both the national team and club soccer. Today, she works as a sideline reporter for soccer games. She is also an ambassador for a soccer team.

Personal Life and Other Work

Heather Mitts has worked in television as a soccer expert. She was an analyst for ABC and ESPN during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also reported from the sidelines for many soccer and college football games.

In February 2010, Heather married NFL quarterback A. J. Feeley. They have three children: a son born in 2014, a daughter born in 2016, and another son born in 2018.

Heather also runs soccer camps across the United States every year. She teaches kids the basic skills of soccer, like dribbling, juggling, and passing. These camps help young players learn and grow their love for the sport.

Honors and Achievements

• CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2008, 2012
• CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2006
• Olympic Gold Medal: 2004, 2008, 2012

Images for kids

• 

  Mitts with the Independence in May 2010

• 

  Heather Mitts signing autographs for fans in 2011.

See also

• All-time Boston Breakers (WPS) roster
• List of ESPN Major League Soccer personalities
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of Olympic medalists in football
• List of University of Florida alumni
• List of University of Florida Olympians
• List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members