Heather Mitts
A rock-solid defender whose speed and tenacity earned her a place on three consecutive Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. soccer teams.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American soccer player·Birthday: June 9·Generation X
Biography
Heather Mitts carved out a crucial role in one of the most successful eras of U.S. women's soccer not as a flashy scorer, but as a dependable and speedy right-back. Her path wasn't linear; she battled significant injuries, including a torn ACL that kept her off the 2007 World Cup squad. Yet, her resilience defined her career. Mitts possessed exceptional pace, often used to shut down opponents' attacks and surge forward in support. She was a fixture in the squad that claimed Olympic gold in 2004, 2008, and 2012, providing defensive stability alongside more celebrated stars. Off the field, her engaging personality made her a media favorite and a bridge between the team and its fans. Her career spanned the formative years of professional women's leagues in the U.S., where she was a consistent and respected presence.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Heather was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Heather Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Heather's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Olympic gold medals with the U.S. women's national team in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
- Played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final, where the U.S. finished as runners-up.
- Was a founding player and consistent starter in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league for multiple teams.
- Earned 137 caps for the United States women's national soccer team over a 12-year international career.
Did You Know?
She was a contestant on the ABC reality dating show 'The Bachelor' in 2004 during the offseason.
She married former NFL quarterback A.J. Feeley in 2010.
She was a standout multi-sport athlete in high school in Cincinnati, also excelling in track and field.
After retirement, she became a sports broadcaster for ESPN and the SEC Network.
“My job was to shut down my side and get forward when I could.”
