Heather Mitts
Encyclopedia
Heather Blaine Mitts Feeley (born June 9, 1978) is an American professional soccer player who is a defender
in the Women's Professional Soccer
(WPS) league. Mitts played college soccer
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, she has played professionally for the Philadelphia Charge
, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat of WPS. She is also a member of the United States women's national soccer team
, and is a two-time Olympic
gold medal
ist.
in 1978. She attended St. Ursula Academy
in Cincinnati, where she played high school soccer. She received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, and played for coach Becky Burleigh
's Florida Gators women's soccer team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) competition from 1996 to 1999.
Mitts was part of the defensive line that helped the Gators win their first-ever NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
in 1998. She was named a third-team All-American in 1998 and a first-team All-American in 1999, and became the Gators' all-time record holder in appearances (95), starts (94), and minutes played (7,547). She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in advertising
in 2000.
in 2000 while waiting for the launch of the new Women's United Soccer Association
league.
Upon the WUSA's launch and inaugural season in 2001, Mitts was drafted to the Philadelphia Charge
. With the club, she appeared in twenty games (1,751 minutes) in the inaugural season and added two assists. Throughout her Charge career, Mitts appeared in fifty-one games (4,414 minutes) and recorded eight assists over three seasons. She was named as a WUSA All-Star in 2003. Unfortunately, after the 2003 season, the WUSA ceased operations.
Mitts returned to W-League
in 2005, playing sparingly for Central Florida Krush
while splitting her time between the United States Women's National Team
. She appeared in four games (360 minutes).
Upon the introduction of Women's Professional Soccer
, Mitts and fellow USWNT players Angela Hucles
and Kristine Lilly
were allocated to Boston Breakers on September 16, 2008. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
, Mitts appeared in nineteen games (all starts, 1,631 minutes) and added an assist. After the season, the Boston Breakers declared Mitts a free agent.
On October 14, 2009, Mitts signed with 2010 WPS expansion team Philadelphia Independence, marking her return to play professional soccer in Philadelphia following the demise of the WUSA's Charge.
For the 2011 season of WPS, she is playing right defensive back for the Atlanta Beat.
gold-medalist as a member of the U.S. National Women's team in the 2004
and 2008 Summer Olympics
, and has represented the United States
in over 100 international matches. She was also a member of the U.S. national team who finished second in the 2006 Algarve Cup
.
On May 12, 2007, Mitts tore her ACL
in an international friendly match with Canada
. The injury put Mitts out of contention for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
On May 9, 2011, Mitts was named to the U.S. roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Germany.
. In addition, she appeared on the cover of Philadelphia
magazine in June 2002 as one of the city's "Sexiest Singles." In 2004, she was voted ESPN.com
’s "Hottest Female Athlete". She also appeared in the 2005 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
.
Mitts has parlayed her looks into a number of television commentary jobs. She has served as a studio analyst for ABC
/ESPN
/ESPN2
during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and was a sideline reporter for several MLS
broadcasts in 2005. In addition to soccer, she also was a sideline reporter for college football during 2005 for ESPN.
After several years of an on-again-off-again relationship, Mitts married NFL
quarterback
A.J. Feeley
in February 2010.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
in the Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
(WPS) league. Mitts played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, she has played professionally for the Philadelphia Charge
Philadelphia Charge
The Philadelphia Charge was an American women's professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association.The team played at Villanova Stadium on the campus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team began play in 2001. The league announced on September...
, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat of WPS. She is also a member of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
, and is a two-time Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
ist.
Early life and university
Mitts was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in 1978. She attended St. Ursula Academy
St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio)
St. Ursula Academy, located in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women that offers an intensive four-year program in the fields of English, mathematics, science, social studies, French, Spanish, Latin, and religion. An...
in Cincinnati, where she played high school soccer. She received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, and played for coach Becky Burleigh
Becky Burleigh
Rebecca Lund "Becky" Burleigh is an American college soccer coach and former college soccer player. She is the current head coach of the Florida Gators women's soccer team of the University of Florida...
's Florida Gators women's soccer team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) competition from 1996 to 1999.
Mitts was part of the defensive line that helped the Gators win their first-ever NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
in 1998. She was named a third-team All-American in 1998 and a first-team All-American in 1999, and became the Gators' all-time record holder in appearances (95), starts (94), and minutes played (7,547). She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
in 2000.
Professional clubs
Straight out of college, Mitts played for Tampa Bay Extreme of W-LeagueW-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
in 2000 while waiting for the launch of the new Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
league.
Upon the WUSA's launch and inaugural season in 2001, Mitts was drafted to the Philadelphia Charge
Philadelphia Charge
The Philadelphia Charge was an American women's professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association.The team played at Villanova Stadium on the campus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team began play in 2001. The league announced on September...
. With the club, she appeared in twenty games (1,751 minutes) in the inaugural season and added two assists. Throughout her Charge career, Mitts appeared in fifty-one games (4,414 minutes) and recorded eight assists over three seasons. She was named as a WUSA All-Star in 2003. Unfortunately, after the 2003 season, the WUSA ceased operations.
Mitts returned to W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
in 2005, playing sparingly for Central Florida Krush
Central Florida Krush
The Central Florida Krush were a W-League franchise based in Winter Park, Florida. The played at Showalter Field, which they shared with the Premier Development League club, Central Florida Kraze. The team folded after the 2006 season.-Year-by-year:...
while splitting her time between the United States Women's National Team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. She appeared in four games (360 minutes).
Upon the introduction of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
, Mitts and fellow USWNT players Angela Hucles
Angela Hucles
Angela Khalia Hucles is a former American soccer midfielder and member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Early life:...
and Kristine Lilly
Kristine Lilly
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is a retired American soccer player who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for 24 years...
were allocated to Boston Breakers on September 16, 2008. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
, Mitts appeared in nineteen games (all starts, 1,631 minutes) and added an assist. After the season, the Boston Breakers declared Mitts a free agent.
On October 14, 2009, Mitts signed with 2010 WPS expansion team Philadelphia Independence, marking her return to play professional soccer in Philadelphia following the demise of the WUSA's Charge.
For the 2011 season of WPS, she is playing right defensive back for the Atlanta Beat.
International
Mitts is a two-time OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold-medalist as a member of the U.S. National Women's team in the 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, and has represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in over 100 international matches. She was also a member of the U.S. national team who finished second in the 2006 Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup
The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's football . Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football...
.
On May 12, 2007, Mitts tore her ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in an international friendly match with Canada
Canada women's national soccer team
The Canada women's national soccer team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. The team reached its all-time high of 6th in the March 2011 rankings. The team reached international prominence finishing in 4th place at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, losing to their archrival American team...
. The injury put Mitts out of contention for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
On May 9, 2011, Mitts was named to the U.S. roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Germany.
Personal
Mitts is known for her her athletic ability and her looks, and as a result, has delved into the world of modeling. In 2001, Mitts was voted as the sexiest player in the WUSA on Playboy OnlinePlayboy Online
Playboy Online is the internet business segment of Playboy Enterprises. It produces some original content that differs from print editions of the publications produced by Playboy Publishing, one of the three business segments of Playboy Enterpises...
. In addition, she appeared on the cover of Philadelphia
Philadelphia (magazine)
Philadelphia is a regional monthly magazine published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Metrocorp....
magazine in June 2002 as one of the city's "Sexiest Singles." In 2004, she was voted ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
’s "Hottest Female Athlete". She also appeared in the 2005 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is published annually by Sports Illustrated. It features fashion models wearing swimwear in exotic locales. According to some, the magazine is the arbiter of supermodel succession. In addition, the issue is a media nexus that in 2005 carried in advertising....
.
Mitts has parlayed her looks into a number of television commentary jobs. She has served as a studio analyst for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
/ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
/ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and was a sideline reporter for several MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
broadcasts in 2005. In addition to soccer, she also was a sideline reporter for college football during 2005 for ESPN.
After several years of an on-again-off-again relationship, Mitts married NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
A.J. Feeley
A.J. Feeley
Adam Joshua Feeley is an American football quarterback for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
in February 2010.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators soccer players
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Olympians