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Soccer Player Alex Morgan Bids Emotional Farewell to Soccer in Final Game

Soccer Player Alex Morgan Bids Emotional Farewell to Soccer in Final Game
  • PublishedSeptember 9, 2024

Under the sweltering heat of nearly 100 degrees, Alex Morgan capped her illustrious 15-year soccer career on Sunday, waving to a cheering crowd as she exited the field for the last time, The Associated Press reports.

The two-time Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist announced her retirement just days after revealing her pregnancy with her second child.

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego was packed with 26,516 fans for Morgan’s farewell match, where she led her team, the San Diego Wave, as captain. She played the first 13 minutes of the game against the North Carolina Courage before subbing out to a standing ovation.

“I did everything I ever wanted to do and more,” Morgan said after the match. “With this decision, I feel so at peace because I am ready to start my family and I am ready to hang up the boots and allow the next generation to flourish and just relish in the spotlight. It’s a good feeling.”

In her final game, Morgan made her 63rd appearance for the San Diego Wave, commemorated with a special No. 63 jersey presented during a pregame ceremony. This match also marked her 150th career appearance in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) play.

The pre-match festivities included a video tribute on the scoreboard showcasing highlights from Morgan’s storied career. Accompanied by her 4-year-old daughter, Charlie, Morgan was surrounded by more than 95 family members and friends in attendance. The Wave’s starters paid homage to her iconic ‘tea sipping’ celebration from the 2019 World Cup semifinals with a team photo.

Morgan’s career with the US national team was filled with accolades, including World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. She won the NWSL championship with the Portland Thorns in the league’s inaugural season and helped the San Diego Wave capture the Shield in 2023.

In total, Morgan played in 224 matches for the US national team, scoring 123 goals—the fifth-highest in the team’s history—and providing 53 assists. She was named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year twice, in 2012 and 2018.

Despite the North Carolina Courage winning the game 4-1, the night was dedicated to celebrating Morgan’s impact on and off the pitch. Morgan’s attempted penalty was stopped by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, but the scoreline was a mere backdrop to her illustrious career’s finale.

Beyond her on-field success, Morgan significantly advanced women’s soccer through her advocacy for equal pay and better working conditions. She was a key figure in the US women’s national team’s 2019 lawsuit, which led to a landmark 2022 agreement guaranteeing equitable pay for both the men’s and women’s teams. Additionally, she championed reforms in the NWSL, calling for an anti-harassment policy after a coach misconduct scandal in 2021.

Looking ahead, Morgan expressed excitement about supporting the San Diego Wave and the US national team, while continuing her advocacy for players’ rights.