Julie Ertz’ Return: Fitting into ACFC and the USWNT

May 3, 2023
By Salma Ahmed

We recently saw how many players will, unfortunately, miss the World Cup due to injury. However, we saw a positive side as well since we are lucky to witness the return of many players, including the amazing Julie Ertz.

Ertz’s return is inspirational, especially because she returned from a two-year hiatus. She still has that spark that was always surrounding her as a player. Therefore, everyone was happy when we saw that she was included in the roster for USWNT’s April training camp.

Who is Julie Ertz?

It has been a while since people talked about Ertz’s career, so some people may not remember her many accomplishments.

Before the hiatus, Ertz played in the NWSL for Chicago Red Stars. She made 95 appearances and scored six goals. The goals may not be as high as expected, but Ertz’s effect on the field was and still is impressive.

We are not exaggerating when we say that Ertz could be a crucial player on the USWNT. The midfielder is a two-time World Cup winner. She is also a two-time Olympian. The last Olympics she participated in was the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and the team won the bronze medal back then.

She was also named the US Soccer Female Player of the Year twice in 2017 and 2019. Already, it seems like Ertz has a high chance of getting the World Cup call-up.

Returning to The NWSL

After returning to the USWNT, Julie Ertz was encouraged to look for a new club to help her secure a spot on the national team’s roster for the upcoming World Cup.

Well, Ertz did just that. She recently signed a one-year deal with Angel City FC, and we weren’t really surprised. We already knew that Angel City FC traded for Ertz’s rights with the Chicago Red Stars before the 2022 NWSL season. However, Ertz didn’t get the chance to play for Angel City because of her pregnancy, and she later became a free agent.

We can guess that one of the reasons that made Ertz choose Angel City is their continuous interest in signing her. “I am so thrilled to be joining one of the most exciting clubs in the world in Angel City FC. From the moment they traded for my rights up until now, they have been unwavering in their support of my journey. I cannot wait to get to work with the team and finally experience the amazing game day atmosphere,” Ertz commented on her move.

We already know that Ertz is excited to be back. She had her debut with Angel City in their game against the San Diego Wave on April 23. She played for 72 minutes which shows that her physical state is good. Unfortunately for Ertz and her teammates, Angel City lost the game, which finished with a 2–0 score.

This loss doesn’t erase the fact that Ertz will have a good influence on the team’s performance, as scored a goal in the extremely exciting Angel City vs. Portland Thorns match on April 29. Again, she played most of the game, signaling she’s ready to fit right back into form.

Ertz’ Immediate Impact on the Club

The fans aren’t the only ones who are excited about Ertz’s return. For example, we have Ali Riley, who spoke about Ertz positively after their game against the San Diego Wave. “We have players more comfortable in their positions, and a lot of that is because we have the presence of Julie now, allowing players to be more attacking. … I think we played a style of football that we’ve been aiming for,” Riley said.

The entire team is excited that Ertz joined them, and they have been vocal about it. Angel City’s General Manager, Angela Hucles Mangano, said, “It goes without saying how massive it is for our club to have Julie as a member of our team. Her focus, determination, leadership, and championship mindset set her apart from most players. She adds tremendous value to any environment she’s a part of. We’re thrilled she chose Angel City in her return to the game.”

Even Ertz herself believes that she is ready more than ever to play soccer again. “I feel like I’m understanding the tactical plays, and it just took time. Emotionally I feel good. I’m in a good headspace to just understand, to give myself a little bit of grace. Overall I feel like being in this environment … the mental side has always been the hardest section, especially being with such elite players day in and day out. And so that almost was the one that I wanted to really focus on coming in here,” Ertz said.

Despite what may happen in the future, we know that we are excited that THE Julie Ertz returned. We definitely can’t wait to see her performance when she becomes more comfortable and play more games.

Images by Daniel Gray