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Julie Johnston is living her dream at Women's World Cup

A little more than four months ago, Julie Johnston was among the most anonymous players on the U.S. national soccer team, with a career resume that consisted of just one start.

But in this Women's World Cup, she played every minute of the Americans' three group-play games — and was arguably the team's best player for most of those minutes.

Yet the transition from anonymity to acclaim has happened so quickly even the 23-year-old Johnston couldn't keep up.

"To hear the fans cheering your name, that's really shocking," she said. "I'm like, 'Wait, how do you know my name?