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Julie Ertz ( Johnston; born April 6, 1992) is a former American soccer player and FIFA Women's World Cup champion. She played as a midfielder for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team.

Ertz played collegiate soccer with the Santa Clara University Broncos from 2010 to 2013. Following her collegiate career, Ertz was selected third overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2014 NWSL College Draft that took place on January 17, 2014. She is in her fifth season with the Red Stars to date. After moving to center midfield for club and country in 2017, Ertz was awarded U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Ertz first appeared for the United States national team during an international friendly against Scotland on February 9, 2013. She has since made 69 total appearances for the team and scored 17 goals. She represented the United States at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. At 23, she was the second youngest member of the team. The United States went on to the World Cup final where she played every minute of all seven games and was subsequently named to the FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team. Ertz again played for the U.S. team at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, scoring in the 3-0 win over Chile. After the 2023 World Cup, Ertz retired from international soccer. (Read more...)