Julie Ertz is back. Fans of the U.S. women's national team have been hoping to hear those words for more than a year, but she is -- as of two substitute appearances for the team -- only back for the USWNT in the most factual and implication-free sense of those words.
Angel City FC has signed Ertz to a one-year contract, which gives her the opportunity to prove she deserves a spot on the World Cup squad. She's appeared three times since signing, and has the chance to suit up for at least six more games via the NWSL regular season and NWSL Challenge Cup before USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski is expected to announce his World Cup roster, roughly a month before the tournament starts in late July.