Julie Johnston Is the Rising Star as USWNT Progresses in Women's World Cup

As recently as last fall, Julie Johnston wasn't even on the United States women's national team roster. But as the States ventures deeper into the Women's World Cup, she has become nothing short of indispensable.

After claiming first place in Group D, the U.S. is set to face tough-talking Colombia on Monday in the round of 16. Through three games, Johnston, a 23-year-old center-back, has been the team's breakout star.

For casual fans, her World Cup ascent has been entirely unexpected. But for those in the know, it's been nothing of the sort.

Johnston's rise to the starting center-back role began in earnest in March, when she started three of four games at the prestigious Algarve Cup and scored against France in the final. But rewind to last fall and Johnston wasn't even in head coach Jill Ellis' plans.

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Originally left off the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Women's Championship—which also served as the region's qualifying tournament for the World Cup—Johnston only earned a call-up following an injury to Crystal Dunn. Even then, the former Santa Clara defender didn't play.

Johnston featured sparingly in December as the U.S. played a four-match tournament in Brazil and was an unused substitute in two February friendlies. For those two games, Ellis paired Whitney Engen with Becky Sauerbrunn in central defense as the Americans sought a long-term replacement for 39-year-old Christie Rampone.

An injury to Engen finally gave Johnston her shot at the Algarve Cup. As we now know, it was an opportunity she seized. After the successful Algarve Cup campaign, Johnston won the starting job at center-back and immediately forged a strong partnership with the more experienced Sauerbrunn.

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“Opportunity presented itself with two injuries,” Ellis said, via Jeff Kassouf of ProSoccerTalk. “So now she’s getting the starting nod in big games and she’s risen to the level. She’s good both sides of the ball as well, certainly on attacking set pieces as well as defending.”

In three World Cup matches, Johnston's stock has risen. Against Sweden in the second group match, she led a strong defensive effort that preserved a scoreless draw for the Americans. In one exceptional sequence, Johnston tracked back the length of the pitch to stop a Swedish counter after moving forward to join in the attack.

Then, in the final group game against Nigeria, Johnston earned FIFA Player of the Match honors with another standout performance. Her personal highlight came in the second half, when she chased down the speedy Asisat Oshoala from behind and stopped a scoring chance with a perfectly timed sliding tackle. The 5'7" center-back also had a headed goal controversially disallowed for offside in the first half.

At this point, with the knockout stage looming, Johnston is undroppable. Versatile, strong in the air and quick enough to chase down a player such as Oshoala, Johnston might be the Americans' best performer so far in Canada. Adept at positioning herself and reading and anticipating the opposition, Johnston has slotted seamlessly into her partnership with Sauerbrunn and become one of the stars of the tournament.

With those two at the back, the U.S. defense has gone 243 minutes without conceding a goal. And at the center of it all has been Johnston, a player few expected to feature so prominently at this World Cup.

"To hear the fans cheering your name, that's really shocking," Johnston told the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter. "I'm like, 'Wait, how do you know my name?' It's definitely different than where I was a year ago."

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But Johnston's rise has hardly been unexpected for USWNT insiders. In 2012, she served as captain of the U.S. team that won the U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. For her excellent work organizing the American defense, she earned the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player.

In college, Johnston played in defense, midfield and up front as a standout for Santa Clara, earning three first-team All-America selections. In 2014, her first season as a professional with the Chicago Red Stars, she was named the National Women's Soccer League Rookie of the Year.

Writing at the Equalizer in March, Jeff Kassouf noted:

"

That Johnston would be a star at senior level one day has been obvious for several years. Translating accolades at the youth or college level to the senior ranks is never a given, of course, but the main questions surrounding Johnston involved where she would play on the field, not if she would be good enough. 

"

The New York Times' Jere Longman, who recently profiled Johnston, passed along a story involving Rampone, the veteran defender whose starting place Johnston has taken. The two players met in 2012, shortly after Johnston had led the U.S. to the under-20 world title.

“You’ll be here,” Rampone told the younger player, referring to a training session full of senior players. After Johnston replied uncertainly, Rampone added, "Don't doubt yourself."

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For those who have watched Johnston play at the World Cup, it's clear the player no longer harbors any doubts about her abilities. The first game of the Algarve Cup was only Johnston's sixth cap at the senior level, but her performances this summer have displayed a maturity and poise beyond her years.

If the U.S. is to make a deep run at the World Cup, it seems certain Johnston will continue to play a starring role. With the American offense struggling at times, the solidity of the defense has been crucial. As the opponents become tougher, Johnston and her colleagues in the back line will have to keep improving.

Fortunately, as her college coach, Jerry Smith, told USSoccer.com, Johnston has one vital factor working in her favor.

“When Julie decides she’s going to do it—she’s going to do it,” Smith said. “She won’t get outworked."

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