One of the first things to know this season about Ally Watt is that she got married in the offseason and she’s taken on her husband’s name professionally. So it’s now Ally Brazier.
The second thing? She’s back home in Denver, excited about a new adventure with the expansion Summit.
“Our coach at our first meeting just showed us like a blank canvas, essentially like a blank Power Point,” she said. “He was like right like now we are starting from nothing, we are starting from no culture, no identity, no tactical anything. We’re gonna be creating a culture, a team identity, a whole type franchise from the ground up. We’re going to be the stepping stones of it. We’re gonna be setting the standards are on this team – what the intensity is gonna be, the identity that we’re gonna play with, the culture that we are gonna create here.”
Brazier was traded from Orlando to the Summit last August, but was loaned back to the Pride to play out the 2025 season.
The offseason was notable for Brazier. She married Donavan Brazier, an accomplished athlete in his own right. Donavan is a middle-distance runner, who specializes in the 800 meters.
Donavan, who at one point held the American indoor record in the 800, ran in the 2022 World Championships, but an Achilles injury that required several surgeries was a setback for a few years. He started competing again last year, and won the 800 at the U.S. nationals in Eugene before competing at the Worlds in Tokyo.
“He’s super healthy now, fully training and it’s gonna be a chill year this year. There’s no championships going on this year, so he’s old to just kind of relax for a second and really build up all that stamina again, because I think you lose it after three years, but he’s still in really good shape. So I think it’s going to be a really good building year for him to just get back up there.”
Ally, 28, was drafted by the North Carolina Courage with the sixth overall pick in 2000, but she injured her ACL in the Challenge Cup that year. She was traded to the Reign at the end of the year.
She was traded to the Pride in 2022. She played 62 matches and scored six goals in her time in Orlando.
A Colorado Springs native, Ally played for the Colorado Pride club. She is one of a number of high profile players from Colorado, including Lindsey Heaps, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson and Jaelin Howell, to name a few.
“Since I am from Colorado, I think it was an opportunity I couldn’t have passed up, to go home and be part of pro women’s soccer coming to my home state,” she said. “Thinking about little Allie, she never thought that would be an opportunity for her growing up. So I think that’s something I couldn’t pass up on.”
That’s by no means a knock on Orlando, Ally said.
“Leaving that group of girls was really sad, I loved them to death. We went through a lot of trauma together to build what we did to become champions,” she said. “But now I get to carry all that that I’ve learned and all that wisdom to this new team. And now I’m a veteran. It’s really weird to think I’ve been in the league for now my seventh year. It’s a different role for me, but I’m really excited for it.”
Ally says she’s looking forward to taking on a leadership role with the Summit, especially to set the tone at the start while the Summit awaits the arrival of Heaps, who will remain with Lyon through its season.
“I think she’s just gonna fit in seamlessly with the team. She’s gonna really lead us but obviously, we will have to figure it out without her for a bit, and I think with the group of girls we have, we have a lot of veterans who are ready and focused, ready to go. We have a lots of experience, but I think we have a lot rookies who are really excited to learn and to take on this load with us.”
She jokes that she’s part of the veteran group called the “grandmas” who guide the younger players. Among the vets are Kaleigh Kurtz, Carson Pickett and goalkeeper Abby Smith.
But as much as the older players are leading the way, the youngsters have a key role in setting the standards and building the culture.
The message is: “You guys are this foundation as well. And as much as you’re gonna learn from me, I’m gonna learn from you. We’re gonna have to give and take from each other, depending on each other throughout,” Ally said.
LINKS
The Denver Summit is expected to smash the league’s attendance record
Savy King is playing again in the preseason
ESPN launching Women’s Sports Sundays
Goal.com spoke to Lori Lindsey about the NWSL and the USWNT
Rodman, Spirit aim for redemption as preseason begins
Ahtlon Sports sat down with Jaedyn Shaw
Hayes announced the roster for the SheBelieves Cup.
What’s next for Catarina Macario?
Olivia Smith stretchered off during FA Cup match
Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City advance in FA Cup
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