National Women's Soccer League

NWSL 2021: Julie Ertz, new Angel City reinforcement

By Wilian Estrella

The Chicago Red Stars defender will switch teams to Angel City FC, one of the newest teams in the NWSL.

The Chicago Red Stars defender will switch teams to Angel City FC, one of the newest teams in the NWSL.

Síguenos enSíguenos en Google News

But Julie Ertz was not Angel City's only acquisition, as they also recruited player Sarah Gorden in the same move. 

Gorden is a great addition to the new team as she was nominated as the NWSL 2021 Defender of the Year

Both players were acquired through a trade with the Chicago Red Stars, a team that also obtained full protection in the expansion draft. 

In exchange for this move, Angel City will receive an international slot from Chicago in 2022 and 2023. 

On the arrival of both players to his team, Angel City sporting director Eni Aluko made very positive comments. 

"Julie Ertz and Sarah Gorden are two players who are very important to the defensive foundation we are building on the Angel City roster," were his comments. 

He further expressed, "We know that successful soccer teams must have competitive defenses and we are thrilled with the addition of two competitive defenders with many years of NWSL experience." 

Julie Ertz's departure marks the end of an era

The departure of Ertz and Gorden marks the end of an era for the Chicago Red Stars, as the player made her debut for that club in 2014.

And since her debut, Julie Ertz posted strong numbers: 6 goals and 8 assists in 95 appearances. 

For her part, Gorden leaves the Chicago club after having played there since 2016 and having won the Defender of the Year award, in addition to having been a starter in all her games played. 

Chicago was the runner-up for the 2021 season when it fell to the Washington Spirit last month.

Julie Ertz: a living legend at 29 years of age

The player has a track record that speaks for itself. 

With the USWNT she has had a successful career. For example, she participated in the 2012 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Panama.

Then she was part of her national team in the U-20 World Cup in 2012, which was played in Japan.

After that competition, she was in the 2013 Four Nations Tournament in China, and the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship in the United States. 

She then made the leap to play in the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada, a title she won along with her national team. 

She then went to Portugal to play in the 2015 Alagarve Cup, which she also won with her team. She would later take the CONCACAF Pre-Olympic tournament in 2016, played in the United States, and more recently, she conquered again the maximum glory of world soccer. 

Together with his national team, he won the 2019 World Cup, which was played in France. 

 Most recently, she and the USWNT won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

And his triumphs do not end with his country's national soccer team. She also earned recognition as the 2017 Player of the Year in the United States. 

The defensive midfielder scored four goals and recorded three assists in 23 games for Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL that year. A living legend of world soccer, before his 30 years of age.


More news