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 soon as training ended, Ertz was back in her car, hustling to deliver her mother-in-law and Madden to the airport in Los Angeles for a flight to Phoenix. At their home there, Ertz’s husband, the Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz, would take over parenting duties for several days while Julie and her National Women’s Soccer League team, Angel City F.