View source for Heather Mitts

{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Heather Mitts
| image          = Heather Mitts-2010a.jpg
| image_size     = 200
| caption        = Mitts in May 2010
| fullname       = Heather Mitts Feeley
| birth_name     = Heather Blaine Mitts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/bio/index.jsp_7046.html |title=Heather Mitts |publisher=[[United States Soccer Federation]] |access-date=July 6, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828021121/http://www.ussoccer.com/bio/index.jsp_7046.html |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1978|6|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]
| height         = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}
| position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]] / [[Right back]]
| collegeyears1  = 1996–1999
| college1       = [[Florida Gators women's soccer|Florida Gators]]
| years1         = 2000
| clubs1         = Tampa Bay Extreme
| caps1          = <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals1         = 
| years2         = 2001–2003
| clubs2         = [[Philadelphia Charge]]
| caps2          = 51 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals2         = 0
| years3         = 2005
| clubs3         = [[Central Florida Krush]]
| caps3          = 4 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals3         = 0
| years4         = 2009
| clubs4         = [[Boston Breakers (WPS)|Boston Breakers]]
| caps4          = 19 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals4         = 0
| years5         = 2010
| clubs5         = [[Philadelphia Independence]]
| caps5          = 17 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals5         = 0
| years6         = 2011
| clubs6         = [[Atlanta Beat (WPS)|Atlanta Beat]]
| caps6          = 8 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY-->
| goals6         = 0
| years7         = 2013
| clubs7         = [[Boston Breakers]]
| caps7          = 0
| goals7         = 0
| totalcaps      = 
| totalgoals     = 
| nationalyears1 = 1999–2012
| nationalteam1  = [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1  = 137
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport |Women's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics#Women|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Women|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]] | [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalSport | [[FIFA Women's World Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup|2011 Germany]] | [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squads#.C2.A0United States|Team competition]]}}
}}

'''Heather Mitts Feeley''' (born '''Heather Blaine Mitts'''; June 9, 1978) is an American former professional [[association football|soccer]] [[defender (association football)|defender]]. Mitts played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] for the [[University of Florida]], and thereafter, she played professionally in the [[Women's Professional Soccer]] (WPS) league; for the [[Philadelphia Charge]], [[Boston Breakers (WPS)|Boston Breakers]], [[Philadelphia Independence]] and [[Atlanta Beat (WPS)|Atlanta Beat]].  She is a three-time [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[gold medal]]ist, and was a member of the [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. women's national team]].  She played in four matches in the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup]], where the U.S. national team finished second. Mitts announced her retirement from soccer via [[Twitter]] on March 13, 2013.

==Early life==
Mitts was born in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], on June 9, 1978,<ref name=ufprofile>GatorZone.com, Soccer History, 1999 Roster, [http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?bio=mitts.html&year=1999  Heather Mitts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505034000/http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?bio=mitts.html&year=1999 |date=May 5, 2012 }}.  Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref> and began playing soccer at the age of six.<ref>{{cite web|title=An Interview with All-Star Soccer Player Heather Mitts!|url=http://www.heathermitts.com/press23.htm|publisher=Grrl Athlete|access-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601071435/http://www.heathermitts.com/press23.htm|archive-date=June 1, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1993 to 1996, she attended [[St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio)|St. Ursula Academy]] in Cincinnati, where she played high school soccer and helped the team tally a 70-5-1 record during her time with the team. During her freshman season, the team won the state title. During her junior and senior years, Mitts earned all-state honors.<ref name=ufprofile/><ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=LeLand|title=Where the U.S. Women's World Cup players went to high school|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/BbY3EKGoEeCkhgAcxJSkrA/where-the-us-womens-world-cup-players-went-to-high-school.htm|work=CBS Sports|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>

===University of Florida Gators===
Mitts 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.<ref name=ufprofile/> Mitts was part of the defensive line that helped the Gators win their first-ever [[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship|NCAA Women's Soccer Championship]] in 1998.<ref name=ufprofile/> 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).<ref name=ufprofile/>  She graduated from the University of Florida with a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[advertising]] in 2000.  She was inducted into the [[List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members|University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame]] as a "Gator Great" in 2013.<ref>F Club, Hall of Fame, [http://www.gatorfclub.org/hall-of-fame/greats  Gator Greats].  Retrieved December 15, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20120910/ARTICLES/120919983?tc=cr  9 UF Greats Join Hall] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913211955/http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20120910/ARTICLES/120919983?tc=cr |date=September 13, 2012 }}," ''The Gainesville Sun'' (September 10, 2012).  Retrieved September 11, 2012.</ref>

==Club career==
===Tampa Bay Extreme, 2000===
[[Image:HeatherMitts2010-c.jpg|thumb|right|208px|upright=3.|Mitts with the Independence in May 2010]]
Straight out of college, Mitts played for Tampa Bay Extreme of [[USL W-League (1995–2015)|W-League]] in 2000 while waiting for the launch of the new [[Women's United Soccer Association]] league.<ref name="Gators 2010 WPS">{{cite web|title=Catch up with the Gators in 2010 Women's Professional Soccer|url=http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=18807|publisher=University of Florida|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>

===Philadelphia Charge, 2001-03===
Upon the WUSA's launch and inaugural season in 2001, Mitts was drafted to the [[Philadelphia Charge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Philadelphia Charge Roster|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/news/2003/philadelphros/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031018122133/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/news/2003/philadelphros/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2003|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heather Mitts bio|url=http://www.heathermitts.com/about2.htm|publisher=Heather Mitts|access-date=November 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904024905/http://www.heathermitts.com/about2.htm|archive-date=September 4, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Unfortunately, after the 2003 season, the [[Women's United Soccer Association#League suspension|WUSA ceased operations]].

===Central Florida Krush, 2005===
Mitts returned to the [[USL W-League (1995–2015)|W-League]] in 2005, playing sparingly for [[Central Florida Krush]] while splitting her time between the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States Women's National Team]]. She appeared in four games (360 minutes). {{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}

===WPS Years, 2009–11===
[[File:Heather Mitts autograph WWC 2011.jpg|thumb|left|333px|Heather Mitts signing autographs for fans in 2011.]]
Upon the introduction of [[Women's Professional Soccer]], Mitts and fellow USWNT players [[Angela Hucles]] and [[Kristine Lilly]] were allocated to the [[Boston Breakers (WPS)|Boston Breakers]] on September 16, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome Back: Lilly, Hucles Return to Boston|url=http://www.soccer-new-england.com/Welcome-Back-Lilly-Hucles-Return-to-Boston.html|publisher=Soccer New England|access-date=November 15, 2012|archive-date=June 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610050411/http://www.soccer-new-england.com/Welcome-Back-Lilly-Hucles-Return-to-Boston.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In the inaugural [[2009 Women's Professional Soccer season]], Mitts appeared in nineteen games (all starts, 1,631 minutes) and added an assist.<ref name="US Soccer bio">{{cite web|title=Heather Mitts bio|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/wnt/m/heather-mitts.aspx|publisher=US Soccer|access-date=November 15, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120064812/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/M/Heather-Mitts.aspx|archive-date=November 20, 2012}}</ref>  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 [[Philadelphia Charge]].<ref name="US Soccer bio" />

In January 2011, Mitts signed with the [[Atlanta Beat (WPS)|Atlanta Beat]] and played right defensive back during the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Independence trade Heather Mitts to Atlanta|date=January 15, 2011 |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/Independence_trade_Heather_Mitts_to_Atlanta.html|publisher=Philly.com|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>

===NWSL, 2013===

In 2013, Mitts was allocated to the [[Boston Breakers]] in the new [[National Women's Soccer League]]; however, she retired before the start of the season.<ref name=uss_hm_ret>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2013/03/wnt-defender-heather-mitts-retires.aspx
 |title       = U.S. Women's National Team Defender Heather Mitts Retires
 |publisher   = U.S.Soccer
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130928004331/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2013/03/WNT-Defender-Heather-Mitts-Retires.aspx
 |archive-date = September 28, 2013
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>

==International career==
Mitts has represented the [[United States women's national soccer team]] in over 100 international matches.  She is a three-time [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medalist ([[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]], [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008]], and [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012]]).

On May 12, 2007, Mitts tore her [[anterior cruciate ligament]] (ACL) in an international friendly match with [[Canada women's national soccer team|Canada]].  The injury put Mitts out of contention for the [[2007 FIFA Women's World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Defender Heather Mitts Tears ACL, Will Miss 2007 Women's World Cup|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2007/05/Defender-Heather-Mitts-Tears-ACL-Will-Miss-2007-Womens-World-Cup.aspx|publisher=US Soccer|access-date=November 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116163843/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2007/05/Defender-Heather-Mitts-Tears-ACL-Will-Miss-2007-Womens-World-Cup.aspx|archive-date=November 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On May 9, 2011, Mitts was named to the U.S. roster for the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup]] tournament in Germany.<ref>"[https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6513622/hope-solo-abby-wambach-lead-us-roster-women-world-cup  Hope Solo back for Women's World Cup]," ESPN.com (May 9, 2011).  Retrieved May 9, 2011.</ref> She was also named to the U.S. roster for the [[2012 London Olympics]], and played all 90 minutes of the match against Colombia in group stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA Women's Olympic Soccer Team: Grading Every Member of the USWNT so Far|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1288123-usa-womens-olympic-soccer-team-grading-every-member-of-the-uswnt-so-far|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>

On March 13, 2013, Mitts officially announced her retirement from the national team as well as the Breakers.  She serves as a sideline reporter for Philadelphia Union games and has become a team ambassador.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heather Mitts retires from soccer, will join Philadelphia Union's TV broadcast team|date=March 13, 2013 |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/Heather-Mitts-retires-from-soccer-will-join-Philadelphia-Unions-TV-broadcast-team.html}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===International goals===
Mitts scored 2 goals in international matches, which are both game winners.
{{Football international goals keys|num=n|number=n|it=n|oq=n|wq=n|rt=n|ot=n|wf=n}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
!
!width=80 align=center|Date
!width=120|Location
!width=90|Opponent
!width=110|Lineup
!Min
!width=100|Assist/pass
!width=30|Score
!width=30|Result
!Competition
|-
|align=center|1
|{{dts|2004|07|03|abbr=on}}<ref name=goal01>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2004/07/Mitts-Goal-Leads-U-S-Women-To-1-0-Victory-Over-Canada.aspx
|title=Mitts Goal Leads U.S. Women to 1–0 Victory Over Canada
|publisher=U.S.Soccer
|access-date=September 14, 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823213705/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2004/07/Mitts-Goal-Leads-U-S-Women-To-1-0-Victory-Over-Canada.aspx
|archive-date=August 23, 2012
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
|[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville TN]]
|{{fbw|Canada}}
|{{hs|90.}}Start
|73
|[[Shannon Boxx]]
|{{sortfbs|1|0|||5150.01005}}
|{{sortfbs|1|0|||5150.01005}}
| {{fb bg friendly match}} | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|align=center|2
|{{dts|2004|09|25|abbr=on}}<ref name=goal02>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2004/09/Hometown-Hero-Wambach-Scores-Twice-As-U-S-Escapes-Rochester-With-Dramatic-4-3-Win-Over-Iceland-In.aspx
 |title       = Hometown Hero Wambach Scores Twice as U.S. Escapes Rochester with Dramatic 4–3 Win Over Iceland in
 |publisher   = U.S.Soccer
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427010449/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2004/09/hometown-hero-wambach-scores-twice-as-u-s-escapes-rochester-with-dramatic-4-3-win-over-iceland-in.aspx
 |archive-date = April 27, 2013
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>
|[[Rochester, New York|Rochester NY]]
|{{fbw|Iceland}}
|{{subin|46|Cat|Reddick|45}}
|93+
|[[Julie Foudy]]
|{{sortfbs|4|3|||5150.04005}}
|{{sortfbs|4|3|||5150.04005}}
| {{fb bg friendly match}} | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

==Personal life==
Mitts has held a number of television commentary jobs. She has served as a studio soccer analyst for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[ESPN]] and [[ESPN2]] during the [[2003 FIFA Women's World Cup]] and was a sideline reporter for several [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] broadcasts in 2005. In addition to broadcasting soccer, she also was a sideline reporter for American college football during fall 2005 for ESPN.<ref name="US Soccer bio" />

Mitts married [[National Football League|NFL]] [[quarterback]] [[A. J. Feeley]] in February 2010.<ref>Marc Narducci, "[http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/soccer/87555057.html  Busy schedule pleases Indy's Mitts]{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}," ''Philadelphia Inquirer'' (March 13, 2010).  Retrieved June 30, 2010.</ref> They have a son born in 2014, a daughter born in 2016, and a son born in 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BmwAIA-DDCT/ | title=Heather Mitts on Instagram: "I've always wanted to have a home birth. Third times a charm! We welcomed Ace Hudson 💙 8lbs 1ounce, 22 inches long. Connor is ecstatic. Blake is still feeling him out 😀 My husband is the real hero though for supporting me through the entire process. Love you so much @ajf14 #homebirth #naturalbirth #familyof5 #acehudson" }}</ref>

Mitts runs a soccer camp every year throughout the United States in which she teaches the basics of soccer including: dribbling, juggling, foot-skills, passing, receiving.  These are one-day soccer camps that teach children to grasp the fundamentals of soccer and allow them to continue their growth and understanding of the sport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 12 Hottest Female Soccer Players to Grace the Field|url=http://ysone.com/top-12-hottest-female-soccer-players-to-grace-the-field/|website=ysone.com|access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

==Honors==
* [[CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament]]: [[2008 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament|2008]], [[2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament|2012]]
*[[CONCACAF Women's Championship]]: [[2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup|2006]]
* [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Gold Medal]]: [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2004]],  [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2008]], [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2012]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Women's association football|Olympics|Sports}}
* [[All-time Boston Breakers (WPS) roster]]
* [[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]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Grainey, Timothy (2012), ''Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer'', University of Nebraska Press, {{ISBN|0803240368}}
* Kassouf, Jeff (2011), ''Girls Play to Win Soccer'', Norwood House Press, {{ISBN|1599534649}}
* Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), ''The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story'', Scarecrow Press, {{ISBN|0810874164}}
* Longman, Jere (2009), ''The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How it Changed the World'', HarperCollins, {{ISBN|0061877689}}
* Stevens, Dakota (2011), ''A Look at the Women's Professional Soccer Including the Soccer Associations, Teams, Players, Awards, and More'', BiblioBazaar, {{ISBN|1241047464}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Heather Mitts}}
* {{FIFA player|186482}}
* {{official website|http://www.heathermitts.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121120064812/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/M/Heather-Mitts.aspx US Soccer player profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090418135047/http://www.wusa.com/festival/team/?id=1203&top_team_id=246 WUSA player profile (archive)]

{{Navboxes
|title=United States squads
|bg=#002868
|fg=white
|bordercolor=#BF0A30
|list1=
{{United States Squad 2004 Summer Olympics (Women's Football)}}
{{United States Squad 2008 Summer Olympics (Women's Soccer)}}
{{United States Squad 2011 Women's World Cup}}
{{United States women's squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{MLS on ESPN}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitts, Heather}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Women's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Women's association football full-backs]]
[[Category:Atlanta Beat (WPS) players]]
[[Category:Boston Breakers players]]
[[Category:FIFA Women's Century Club]]
[[Category:Florida Gators women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Charge players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Independence players]]
[[Category:United States women's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Washington Freedom (soccer) players]]
[[Category:2011 FIFA Women's World Cup players]]
[[Category:USL W-League (1995–2015) players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer broadcasters]]
[[Category:Women association football commentators]]
[[Category:Association football commentators]]
[[Category:Women's United Soccer Association players]]
[[Category:Warrington College of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Women's Professional Soccer players]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]