CHICAGO (Oct.27, 2020) — Chicago Red Stars forward Kealia Watt was named the 2020 Chicago Red Stars Newcomer of the Year, as voted on by Red Stars fans online. Watt was nominated for the award alongside teammates Rachel Hill, Makenzy Doniak, and Cassie Miller.  

Watt was acquired by Chicago via trade in January after spending six seasons with the Houston Dash, where she made 114 appearances and established herself as one of the league’s top attacking players with 28 career goals.  

She made her long-awaited Red Stars debut at the team’s Challenge Cup opener against the Washington Spirit and immediately became a key player for Chicago. She would make 10 appearances for the Red Stars in 2020, tied for second-most on the team.  

Watt was one of the league’s best attacking players during the NWSL Fall Series as well. In the opening game against Washington, she assisted Sarah Luebbert’s goal to give Chicago the lead. Watt would continue to spearhead the attack the following week against Sky Blue FC with her best performance of the series. She scored Chicago’s opening goal to tie the game and would assist Vanessa DiBernardo’s goal to give the Red Stars a 3-1 lead at the half. Watt would seal the victory for Chicago with another goal in the second half in a 4-1 win. Thanks to her two-goal and one assist performance, she would be named the NWSL’s Budweiser Woman of the Week.