USWNT

U.S. Soccer announced Julie Ertz as the 2019 USWNT Player of the Year on Friday morning, the 27-year-old powerhouse beating out teammate Megan Rapinoe, who had been honored by FIFA and the Ballon d’Or as the best in the world.

Ertz has dominated wherever she plays for five years now, whether it’s anchoring a back line as a powerful center back or holding down the middle of the park as a box-to-box midfielder. Ertz was named to the Women’s World Cup team of the tournament as the USWNT won a second straight world championship.

After a long, emotional and highlight-reel-filled 2019 women’s college soccer season came to a close, it was only right for the season to end in one of the highest and most nail-biting ways. 

Tired of hearing about Megan Rapinoe? Yeah, me neither. 

Rapinoe has had herself quite the year and to add on to her standout persona, Nike honored her with a pair of cleats designed specifically to commemorate her triumph at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.  


She’s known for her pink hair, her activism and her recent World Cup performance with the USWNT, where she earned herself the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards. Now if you had to describe Rapinoe by customizing a cleat, it would look a lot like Nike’s design.

Julie Ertz, a two-time World Cup winner, and Christian Pulisic, a one-time Gold Cup runner-up, were named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for 2020, announced Tuesday. The annual list recognizes high-performing individuals under the age of 30. Last year, Crystal Dunn was the lone soocer player selected.

Julie Ertz, the USWNT standout and two-time World Cup champion, and her husband Zach Ertz, an NFL player and Super Bowl Champion, are the epitome of a power couple.

As professional athletes they, like many other professional couples, are a tad bit more competitive than the average couple. They are always supportive of one another when they are competing on the biggest stage, but even when they are playing a friendly game of air hockey the winner (Julie) enjoys her bragging rights.

With both teams having completed their 2019 schedules, U.S. Soccer announced the six women and six men nominated for Player of the Year for the USWNT and USMNT on Tuesday. 

The list for Female Player of the Year in the U.S. includes some of the best players in the world. The nominees for Male Player of the Year? Not so much.

 

Here are your 2019 #USWNT Player of the Year nominees!

Argentina’s 1-0 friendly victory over Brazil on Friday — thanks to Lionel Messi’s goal in the 13th minute — created quite the conversation on Twitter. From Messi telling Brazil manager Tite to shut up after he believed Messi should’ve been given a yellow card to penalty misses from both Gabriel Jesus and Messi, it was quite an entertaining match.

Dawn Scott is leaving the USWNT after nine years as the head strength and fitness coach, leaving the U.S. for the England national team. Training Ground Guru first reported the move, with the England native set to become Phil Neville’s “Physical Performance Coach,” with an official announcement expected next week.