After an illustrious career and recent World Cup appearance, USWNT star and Angel City FC midfielder, Julie Ertz, announced her retirement with a statement this morning.
THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/GapGnMfSa5
— Julie Ertz (@julieertz) August 31, 2023
“As a former player that went through my own retirement process, I have an intimate understanding of what Julie is going through,” said ACFC General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano in a statement. “She has given her life to the sport of soccer, and now she has made the difficult decision to leave the game to focus on her family. We fully support her in this choice and recognize how complex these life decisions can be. She will always be a part of this club, in addition to having made an indelible mark on global soccer. We wish her only happiness in the future.”
“Julie has forever left a positive mark on Angel City, and we are truly honored to call her one of our first alums,” said ACFC Co-Founder and President Julie Uhrman in a statement. “Time isn’t the only measurement of influence; what matters is one’s commitment to supporting their team and community during their tenure. We thank Julie, and are forever grateful for the time she spent with Angel City. Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman, and I know firsthand how special it is to be a mother, and we can’t wait to watch Julie in the next phase of her journey with Madden and Zach.”
Ertz has 122 international caps, including four during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. In addition to being a two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic bronze medalist, she was named the US Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019. She was drafted third overall in the first round of the 2014 NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. During her seven seasons in Chicago, Ertz made 95 appearances and played 8,306 minutes.
The Red Stars made seven straight playoff appearances during Ertz’s time there, including two appearances in the championship game (though she was sidelined with an injury for most of 2021). After signing with Angel City in April, Ertz appeared in seven total regular season matches in 2023, scoring one goal in her club debut against Portland Thorns FC.
We would like to wish Julie Ertz the absolute best in whatever her next endeavor will be. Drop your well wishes for Ertz in the comments below!