 The Beat, 12th Man Productions' all-access look into Texas A&M Athletics, airs Wednesdays at 4 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest and 6:30 p.m. locally in College Station on KBTX-TV. |
Ally Watt's freshman campaign was one for the books.
After starting 17 games and scoring seven goals in 2015, Watt caught the eye of several—the Team USA coaching staff included.
Before she knew it, Ally was faced with a difficult decision: forego her sophomore year and join the under-20 National Team in the 2016 FIFA World Cup, or stay and play for the maroon and white.
With full support of the Aggie soccer family, Ally chose the red, white and blue.
"When I found out I made the team, I just couldn't stop crying," Watt recalled. "I was just so happy. (Associate Head Coach) Phil (Stephenson) just said, 'Honestly, if you redshirt we'll still support you no matter what'.
"I made the (decision) to go to World Cup, and the team stood behind me, Phil stood behind me. That made my decision very easy because I knew no matter what the team would stand by my side."
"I was just incredibly happy for Ally, that she had made one of the best teams in the world," Stephenson said. "It was something that she'd wanted to do and worked incredibly hard to do."
Watt made the most of this rare opportunity. During her time in Papua New Guinea, she played alongside and against the best—transforming her into the player she is today.
The most exciting part? She'll bring a new and improved game home to Aggieland.
"Competing with some of the top athletes and soccer players in the world, they just push you to do better," Watt said. "We push them to be better, hopefully, but they definitely push us to do better and make us a better soccer player."
"She has come back a better player," Stephenson said. "All those experiences really helped. She's better. And that's going to make us better and the people around her better."
Watt earned a wonderful opportunity to play with Team USA. She made the most of it and her mark nationally.
Now it's time to continue the process of leaving a lasting legacy at Texas A&M.
"It's so great to have her back," said teammate Brittany Crabtree. "I know she's excited to be back on the team and back playing for A&M and the people she's with all the time."
"The person I was when I came to A&M…I'm a completely different person now," Watt said. "Just seeing the support that A&M was showing me made me realize I made the right decision to come here."
"We're so proud of her," Crabtree added. "I know not only me, but the whole team, the coaching staff, a lot of the A&M campus. It's awesome to have her back. I know she accomplished a lot while she was over there."
"The team—they're my best friends now—(and) the coaches…they all supported me," Watt said. "That's what an Aggie is. And I'm really happy that I get to be part of this Aggie family now. To just wear the maroon, and the stripes, and be back with my best friends on the team, I'm just so happy."
Watt turns her attention to the pursuit of another big goal. A national championship.
"Now I get to start a new journey with my teammates again," Watt said. "I have three more years of soccer here, and I feel like I could just keep growing, keep growing in my relationships here at A&M and keep growing on the field as a soccer player.
"I can't wait to see what happens."