Renowned women's soccer star Julie Ertz, who gained notoriety for time spent playing for the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) as well as for Angel City FC, has announced her retirement from the professional sport, as Fox News reports.
Word of Ertz's decision comes in the wake of the USWNT's shock elimination from the World Cup and during a time of significant transition in the ranks of the game's top female players.
Ertz announces departure
It was in a Thursday social media post that Ertz informed the world of her plans, writing, “With immense emotion and processing, I've decided it is time to hang up the boots.”
“I've been blessed to meet and train with some of the best and most inspirational women I've ever been around, and I've experienced different cultures while traveling the world to compete at the highest level,” Ertz continued.
Expressing her gratitude for all she has been able to accomplish during her years on the pitch, Ertz added, “I gave everything I had to the sport that I love. With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I'll always be thankful.”
Prolific career
Ertz' roster of achievements includes serving as a member of World Cup-winning squads in 2015 and 2019, as Fox News noted.
Her tenure as part of the USWNT included 20 goals scored in 122 games.
Of the 17 World Cup matches in which Ertz played, her team was victorious in an impressive tally of 13.
In addition, Ertz secured a professional contract with the Angel City NWSL team, solidifying her reputation as one of the sport's best.
Ertz' retirement news comes on the heels of a similar announcement made earlier this summer by controversial longtime USWNT standout Megan Rapinoe, whose final regular season professional game will take place on Oct. 6, as ESPN.com reported.
Family first
A pivotal factor in her decision to step away from the game, according to Ertz, was a desire to spend more time with those closest to her, which now includes a young son, Madden.
“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,” Ertz said, expressing a sentiment to which countless professional women can surely relate.
