Julie Ertz was on the clock. On one sunny morning in May, Ertz, a defender for the United States women’s soccer team, rolled out of bed early to dress and feed her infant son, Madden, and pack him for a trip. Then she scrambled to collect her soccer gear and headed off to a meeting with her club team, which was followed by several hours of practice. As Ertz, 31, described this crazy schedule and her daily challenges juggling roles as a soccer star and a first-time mother, her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t know if I’d be back,” she said of returning to soccer only months after Madden’s birth, in hopes of playing in her third Women’s World Cup.

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Persons: Julie Ertz, Madden, Ertz, Ertz’s, Zach Ertz, Julie, Zach, I’d, ”, “ Organizations: United, soccer, Phoenix, Arizona Cardinals, National Women’s Soccer League, Angel City F.C, Madden Locations: Ertz, United States, Los Angeles, East Coast