Julie Ertz, a star player of the United States Women’s National Team, has announced her retirement from international soccer at the age of 31. In a statement on social media, she expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country and the honor it has been for her.
“Representing this country on the National Team has been the greatest honor,” Ertz said in the statement. “To play for the USWNT means you choose greatness every day while you wear the crest. I hope that I was able to leave an impact that reflects that.”
Ertz has made 122 appearances for the USWNT since her debut in 2013, scoring 20 goals and winning two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Her decision to retire comes after her team’s loss to Sweden in the Women’s World Cup Round of 16, where she appeared to allude to her retirement.
Ertz’s decision is immediate, and she will not return to Angel City to finish the NWSL season due to the difficulties of balancing her career and motherhood. She played and started in seven matches before the World Cup, scoring one goal.
“The logistics of not living in an NWSL market is challenging, and I know the sacrifices it takes to be the best you can be,” Ertz wrote. “As I have gotten older and become a mom, it’s clear the sacrifices of time away from my family no longer seem doable with so many factors at play.”
She thanked all the teams she had been in
Julie extended her gratitude to Angel City in her statement, thanking them for their support during her comeback journey. She also thanked her other clubs, early youth teams, USWNT, NWSL, teammates, fans, and family.
The Arizona native played a crucial role in helping the USA win back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019. She played center back in the ’15 World Cup in Canada and made a name as a top defensive midfielder in the world in France four years later.
Ertz played most of her professional club career for the Chicago Red Stars from 2014-21, earning the 2014 NWSL Rookie of the Year award. She is also a two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year (2017 and 2019) and retires as the only player to win the award and the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award twice.
