Julie Ertz
Defensive Midfielder / Centre Back · Chicago Red Stars / Angel City FC · USA
About Julie Ertz
A two-time USWNT Player of the Year and World Cup winner, Julie Ertz is one of the most physically dominant and defensively complete players in women's football — a defensive midfielder who can also play centre back and has been a cornerstone of US dominance for a decade.
Julie Ertz's story
Arizona Roots
Julie Ertz (née Johnston) was born on 6 April 1992 in Mesa, Arizona. She played at Santa Clara University — the same institution that produced Brandi Chastain — before joining Chicago Red Stars in the inaugural NWSL draft. Her physical presence and defensive intelligence marked her out immediately as an exceptional talent.
Defensive Anchor
Ertz is one of those rare players who can operate equally effectively as a defensive midfielder and as a centre back — her physical attributes (strength, aerial ability, positional awareness) and tactical intelligence make her valuable in either role. She has been the USWNT's defensive foundation through two World Cup victories.
2019 World Cup Winner
Ertz was one of the USA's most important players at the 2019 Women's World Cup — her defensive presence allowed the creative players ahead of her more freedom. She won her second World Cup, having also won in 2015, and was named USWNT Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2019.
Personal Life
Ertz is married to NFL tight end Zach Ertz, one of America's most famous football players — the couple are considered one of the premier sporting partnerships in American sport. She has combined her football career with motherhood, having a child in 2023, and continues to play at the highest level.
Did you know?
- Ertz won the USWNT Player of the Year award in 2017 and 2019 — recognition that, for those two years, she was considered the most important player in the most successful national team in world football.
- She is married to NFL star Zach Ertz, one of the most celebrated tight ends in American football history — the couple are widely considered one of American sport's most prominent partnerships.
- Ertz took maternity leave from professional football in 2023 and returned to play, describing the experience of balancing motherhood with elite sport as the most challenging and rewarding thing she has ever done.
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