The U.S. Women’s National Team gives America a side that we can all root for. Hence the #1N1T “One Nation, One Team” hashtag. However, there are provincial angles to every World Cup too. Julie Johnston plays her club ball here in Chicago for the Red Stars; along with Shannon Boxx, Christen Press (who scored the game winning goal last night) and Lori Chalupny.
Despite her status as a cult favorite on Twitter during the game last night, Julie Johnston definitely flies under the radar.
It’s a World Wide Web, and “world football.” It’s an international game, much like this is an international website, but the phrase “all politics is local” applies to sports as well.
When Press scored Monday night that was a proud moment for Chicagoans. Likewise when Boxx, Chalupny and Julie Johnston succeed as well. Johnston, who plays center back, is a key part of the USWNT defense and she made some key passes in the closing minutes of last night’s 3-1 victory over the Australians. She also had a couple important clear-outs to help preserve the American victory.
Obviously, that’s over-stating it. It’s a big tag to slap on the team’s second youngest player, and the most inexperienced non-goalkeeper on the side.
But hey, at least someone is talking about about her now though. Because we rarely hear much about her. So here’s at least one post out there focusing on Julie Johnston.
Everyone knows who Alex Morgan is; for pretty much all the right reasons. We all know Hope Solo too; for mostly the wrong reasons.
Sydney Leroux, Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach get a fair share of press coverage too.
It should be noted that this post was originally written before the U.S. goalless draw with Sweden, in which Julie Johnston was the de facto MVP and breakout star. Both announcers who called the game, Cat Whitehill and Tony Di Cicco, said at one point during the broadcast that she was the player of the game
Postgame, Lalas said he was impressed with the U.S. defense:
“There was very little up top – the U.S. has to work on that. And the back, it warms the cockles of my heart to see two center backs like Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston back there playing so well.”
On a side note, Johnston’s boyfriend is Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Zach Ertz.
-USWNT Profile Series:
Christen Press
Abby Wambach
Follow her on Twitter here: (it’s worth noting that after the game, Julie Johnston was a top ten trending term on Twitter nationally Saturday night)
Game day, Go USA! pic.twitter.com/o3Y1bSXeY5
— Julie Ertz (@julieertz) May 17, 2015
-World Cup On-Air talent profiles
Alexi Lalas
Heather Mitts
Jenny Taft
Julie Stewart-Binks
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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