The latest U.S. women’s national team roster is out, and Julie Ertz’s return set the agenda to such an extent that head coach Vlatko Andonovski couldn’t help but crack a joke.
“So basically, you want to know everything about Julie?” asked Andonovski, starting a Tuesday media session off with the first of numerous Ertz-related questions.
“We’re excited to have Julie back. We know the quality of the player that she’s [been], and that if she comes anywhere near her best, that she will certainly help us win a World Cup,” said Andonovski on the recall. “We’re gonna see Julie in camp and then we’ll see how many minutes she’s gonna get. We certainly will see her on the field.”
The USWNT faces the Republic of Ireland in upcoming friendlies in Austin (April 8) and St. Louis (April 11). Should Ertz play in the first match, it would mark her first competitive action for the USWNT or a professional club in 612 days.
“It’s very exciting to be back with the team again and I’m grateful to have this opportunity,” said Ertz in a statement U.S. Soccer provided to Pro Soccer Wire. “I have to work out details in regards to my club situation, but I am very thankful to Zach, my family, and U.S. Soccer for the amazing support they have provided to get me back to this point. I’ve been training hard, excited to see where I’m at physically and getting better each day. I am going into this camp the same way I always have, to compete with the best women in the world.”
Andonovski said he and U.S. Soccer have been “in constant communication” with Ertz, with the goal being to set her up so that she could give her very best shot at returning to a USWNT that hasn’t seen her since August 5, 2021. Per Andonovski, Ertz has been working her way back out of the public eye.
“In the last couple of months, Julie was training very hard,” said Andonovski. “I had a chance to see some of the training firsthand. She was training with MLS academy boys. She trained with a personal high performance coach, with a personal technical coach, and was up to the level that a lot of professional players were training…sometimes even harder.”
The USWNT collective bargaining agreement (CBA) includes a clause that protects players from being permanently dropped due to a pregnancy, with language mandating at least two camp invites after a) the player is determined by the USWNT coach and general manager to be physically ready to return, or b) if they train with a professional team for at least two months.
Andonovski said that while the recalls for Ertz and Chicago defender Casey Krueger — who both gave birth last summer — are for soccer reasons, he is of the belief that their returns comply with the CBA as well.
“Once [Ertz] got cleared from from her physician, our medical staff was able to clear her, and we established that she’s ready to join us in camp, and that’s why she got the invite,” explained Andonovski.
Still, despite the obvious excitement in the fanbase at seeing the unexpected return of a key player going into the World Cup, Andonovski emphasized that all he’s offering is an opportunity.
“Nothing is going to be given,” said Andonovski. “I also have to say, we’ve been very pleased with Andi Sullivan and her progression, so Julie coming in doesn’t mean that everyone moves on the side and Julie gets into that spot. I said earlier, she needs to come in, she needs to prove herself… It will be a battle, but that’s what this team is all about. It’s about competition, a constant competition, day in and day out.”
Vlatko: Ertz will sign with a club shortly
One aspect of Ertz’s return is that she’s currently a free agent, and has been for over a year.
After playing in every national team game throughout the early months of 2021, Ertz sprained her MCL in the Chicago Red Stars’ regular season opener. It was a surprise that she made it back in time for the Olympics, and while the plan heading into the tournament seemed to be a steady progression back through the final steps of her recovery, a nightmare opening half against Sweden seemed to change the equation. Ertz came on at halftime, and played every second of the tournament from that point on, a total of 525 minutes in 15 days.
Ertz didn’t return to play with the Red Stars following the tournament, a period of time that contained league-wide turmoil pertaining to abusive conduct by numerous coaches and front office employees. The revelations eventually reached Chicago, with the Washington Post reporting extensive allegations of abusive conduct against Rory Dames. Ertz’s NWSL rights were traded to Angel City FC before the 2022 NWSL expansion draft, but as she was out of contract, she has never been on the LA-based club’s roster.
Ertz announced her pregnancy on April 4, 2022, and up until now has not signed with any club. Angel City still holds Ertz’s NWSL rights, and have at least two open roster spots, making them the frontrunner to welcome the 30-year-old back into professional club soccer.
Andonovski says to expect the issue to be settled in the very near future.
“She needed to join a professional team to get consistent games to give us a chance to furthermore evaluate her before the World Cup. She will do that,” said Andonovski. “As we speak, I believe, she’s in negotiation with a team and or teams, and pretty soon I’m sure we’ll have news on that front as well.”
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