Julie Ertz facts for kids
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Ertz with the USWNT in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Julie Beth Ertz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Julie Beth Johnston | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | April 6, 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mesa, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, defender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AYSO Region 503 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2010 | Sereno Soccer Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Santa Clara Broncos | 79 | (31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2021 | Chicago Red Stars | 95 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Angel City FC | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States U15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States U18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | United States U20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | United States U23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2023 | United States | 123 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Julie Beth Ertz (born April 6, 1992) is a former professional soccer player from the United States. She played for the Chicago Red Stars from 2014 to 2021. In 2023, she played for Angel City FC. Julie was also a key player for the U.S. women's national team from 2013 to 2023. She played in 123 games for her country.
Ertz played college soccer for the Santa Clara University Broncos from 2010 to 2013. After college, the Chicago Red Stars picked her third overall in the 2014 NWSL Draft. She was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year. Julie helped the United States win the World Cup in 2015 and 2019. In 2015, at 23, she was one of the youngest players on the team. She played every minute of all seven games in that tournament. She was also named to the FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team. After the 2023 World Cup, Ertz retired from playing for the national team.
In 2017, Ertz started playing as a center midfielder for her club and country. She won the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award that year. She won the award again in 2019. Her husband, Zach Ertz, is a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).
Contents
Growing Up and Early Soccer
Julie Ertz was born in Mesa, Arizona. Her parents are Kristi and David Johnston. She grew up with her sister, Melanie. Julie started playing soccer in her local AYSO league.
The Johnston sisters played for the Sereno Soccer Club in Phoenix. Julie played for the team from 2004 to 2010. She won the state championship nine times with her team. She was also the team captain.
Ertz went to Dobson High School in Mesa from 2006 to 2010. She chose to focus on her club soccer team instead of playing for her high school. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
Playing for Santa Clara University (2010–2013)
Ertz went to Santa Clara University and studied communications. She played as a midfielder for the Broncos women's soccer team.
- 2010 Season: As a freshman, she played in 20 games and started 16. She led the team with five assists. She was named WCC Freshman of the Year.
- 2011 Season: She started all 21 games. She scored nine goals and had four assists. She was named to the NSCAA All-American First-Team.
- 2012 Season: As a junior, she played in 15 games and started 14. She led the team with eight goals and had five assists. She was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year.
- 2013 Season: She played in 22 games. She led the team with eight assists and scored 12 goals. She was named WCC Player of the Year.
Overall, Ertz played in 79 games for the Broncos and scored 31 goals.
Professional Club Career
Chicago Red Stars (2014–2021)
On January 17, 2014, the Chicago Red Stars picked Julie Ertz third overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft. She joined the team for the 2014 season.
- 2014 Season: She played her first game on April 19. She scored her first goal in that game. She started 21 games and scored two goals. She was named NWSL Rookie of the Year.
- 2015 Season: Ertz missed part of the season because she was playing in the World Cup. She played in 11 games for the Red Stars. The team finished second and made it to the playoffs. She was named to the NWSL Best XI team.
- 2016 Season: She played in 12 games before joining the national team for the Olympics. She was a finalist for Defender of the Year.
- 2017 Season: Ertz started playing a new role as an attacking midfielder. She scored the winning goal in her second game. She was named to the NWSL Second XI team.
- 2018 Season: She missed the start of the season due to a knee injury. She played in 15 games. The Red Stars made the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Ertz was named to the NWSL Second XI.
- 2019 Season: Ertz and the Chicago Red Stars played in their first NWSL Championship game.
- 2021 Season: On December 3, 2021, her rights were traded to Angel City FC.
Angel City FC (2023)
After taking a break from soccer for a year and a half, Ertz signed with Angel City FC. She returned to the NWSL in April 2023.
On August 31, 2023, Julie Ertz announced that she was retiring from professional soccer.
Playing for the National Team
Youth National Teams
In 2006, Ertz attended a camp for the United States U14 team. In 2009, she was called to a U18 national team training camp.
In 2012, Ertz played for the U20 team. She scored a goal against Switzerland. She was the captain of the U20 team that won the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship. She also led her team to win the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. She won the Bronze Ball award herself at that tournament.
In 2013, Ertz played for the U23 team. They won the Four Nations Tournament in Spain.
Senior National Team
First Games (2013–2014)
Ertz was first called to the national team in January 2013. She played her first game on February 9, 2013, against Scotland. The United States won 4–1.
In April, Ertz traveled to Europe with the team. She started a game against the Netherlands. The United States won 3–1.
In 2014, Ertz joined the national team for training camps. She was added to the roster for the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship when another player was injured. The United States qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup by winning a semi-final game against Mexico.
Winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Ertz started 2015 with a training camp. She was then named to the team for the 2015 Algarve Cup in Portugal. She started three games, including the final against France. Ertz scored her first international goal in that game, helping the U.S. win 2–0.
On April 14, Ertz was named to the team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was one of only five U.S. players who played every minute of all seven games. In the semi-final against Germany, she was given a yellow card. The U.S. won 2–0 and moved to the final. In the final against Japan, Ertz accidentally scored an own goal. However, the United States still won the game and the World Cup title! After the tournament, Ertz was named to the FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team.
2016 Rio Olympics
Ertz joined the national team for training in 2016. She was named to the team for the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship. The United States qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. team won the qualifying tournament by beating Canada 2–0.
Ertz also played in the 2016 SheBelieves Cup. She helped the United States win the cup by beating Germany 2–1 in the final game.
In April, Ertz scored two goals in a game against Colombia, helping the U.S. win 3–0. In June, she scored another goal against Japan.
On July 12, Ertz was named to the Olympic team. She played her first Olympic game on August 3 against New Zealand, which the U.S. won 2–0. She missed some games due to an injury. She returned for the quarterfinal game against Sweden, which the U.S. lost in penalty kicks.
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2019 FIFA World Cup
In 2017, coach Jill Ellis moved Ertz from playing as a center back to a defensive center midfield position. She did very well in this new role. In 2017, she was named the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
In May 2019, she was named to the team for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. This was her second World Cup. She scored a goal in the 3–0 win over Chile. Ertz also won the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award again in 2019.
2020 SheBelieves Cup
On March 5, 2020, Ertz played her 100th game for the United States. This was during the first game of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup against England, which the U.S. won 2–0.
Personal Life
In February 2016, Julie got engaged to NFL tight end Zach Ertz. They met at Stanford University's baseball stadium. They got married on March 26, 2017, in Santa Barbara, California. Julie and Zach Ertz were featured in ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue in 2017, which highlights athletes' physiques.
In April 2022, they announced they were going to have their first child. Their son was born on August 11, 2022. In April 2024, they shared that they were expecting their second child. On August 24, 2024, they announced the birth of their twin sons.
Honors and Awards
Chicago Red Stars
- NWSL Championship runner-up: 2019, 2021
- NWSL Challenge Cup runner-up: 2020
United States U20
- CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2012
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2012
United States
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2015, 2019
- CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2014, 2018
- Olympic Bronze Medal: 2020
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2016, 2020
- SheBelieves Cup: 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021
- Tournament of Nations: 2018
- Algarve Cup: 2015
Individual Awards
- U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year: 2017, 2019
- U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year: 2012
- CONCACAF Women's Championship Golden Ball: 2018
- CONCACAF Women's Championship Best XI: 2018
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2019
- Best NWSL Player ESPY Award: 2021
- FIFA FIFPro Women's World XI: 2015, 2019
- NWSL Rookie of the Year: 2014
- NWSL Best XI: 2015
- NWSL Second XI: 2016, 2017, 2018
- WCC Freshman of the Year: 2010
- NSCAA All-American First Team: 2011, 2013
- All-WCC First Team: 2011, 2012, 2013
- WCC Player of the Year: 2013
Images for kids
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Ertz with the USWNT in 2019
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Ertz (then known as Johnston; left) with the Chicago Red Stars during a match against Houston Dash on July 26, 2014
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Playing in a friendly, May 2015
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Yuika Sugasawa is fouled by Ertz in the 13th minute of the match between the United States and Japan on June 5, 2016
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Ertz signing a fan's poster in a friendly before the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
See also
In Spanish: Julie Ertz para niños
