HOUSTON – She's a powerhouse on the U.S. Women's National Team, and she's also the all-time leader in goals and assists for the Houston Dash.
Fresh off inking a new contract with the organization, the 5-foot-5-inch forward, Kealia Ohai, said Houston is where her heart is.
"I love Houston. For the rest of my career, I want to be here and I want to be with the Dash," Ohai said. "I have the perfect set up and I love it. This is kind of like a home to me now."
But the UNC grad also has another reason to stick around town: She's also known as the girl who stole J.J. Watt's heart.
"Yeah, we have ... we have a good thing going," Ohai said.
The two have quickly become Houston's power couple. Ohai admits she had to adjust to the spotlight.
"It's different, and I'm pretty low-key and private. At first, it was a challenge, but now, I think we're more used to it," Ohai said.
The spotlight included walking the red carpet together just last weekend as Watt accepted the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
About his award, Ohai said, "It's amazing to see all of the work he's put in and everything he's done for this. It's awesome he's getting honored and we're so proud to be here with him."
When asked by KPRC 2 anchor Rachel McNeil if he planned to "put a ring on it" this year, Watt responded with a laugh, "You guys are too terrible, you're terrible."
Ring or no ring, their bond grew even stronger this year when both were sidelined by season-ending injuries.
Ohai tore her ACL early in the Dash's season. Then, just five games into the Texans season, Watt went down with a leg injury.
"It's been very helpful to have each other. Definitely not the situation that we wanted. I never want to see him injured like that, but he's helped me a lot and kept me positive," Ohai said. "It's nice because I can relate now to what he's going through and, obviously, he can relate to me, so it's helped to have him and to have each other it's been awesome."
"Kealia is one of the hardest working athletes," her trainer said, "male, female, NFL, that I have. She's a very hard worker."
The couple have pushed one another along while recovering.
"We both have good days and bad days just like with any injury. So it's good to have each other just to remind each other be positive and everything is going to be OK," Ohai said.