Alex Morgan will leave behind an incredible legacy as she announces her retirement from USWNT competition. Here are 13 highlights from Alex Morgan's life on and off the pitch as she bids farewell.

One of the greatest U.S. women’s national team players will retire and bid farewell on Sunday. Longtime Wave FC striker Alex Morgan officially made her announcement of retirement via video farewell Thursday and will play her final match at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego against North Carolina Courage. Morgan will leave behind an nearly 15-year professional career marked by numerous championships, titles, and personal accomplishments. Since making her senior national team debut in 2010 onwards she made 223 appearances scoring 123 goals – ranking her fifth all time among national team players. She holds two FIFA Women’s World Cup championships (in 2015 and 2019) as well as Olympic gold and bronze medals. At club level too, she has accomplished much; winning four national club championships (2011 WSP Championship, 2013 NWSL Championship and 2024 NWSL Shield). Many notable moments took place both on and off the pitch during her distinguished career wearing No. 13. Take a look back at 13 key moments from Morgan’s career:13. California Kid Makes Snowy Senior DebutMorgan made her memorable senior debut against Mexico on a snow-covered pitch at Salt Lake City Stadium in Utah; off the bench and wearing No 21 during that appearance was enough to mark it memorable and start her on her path towards success in Utah and elsewhere.
12. 2008 U-20 World Cup championThis youth team brought Morgan, Sydney Leroux and Alyssa Naeher into prominence, with Morgan being an instrumental factor. She scored four goals en route to capturing only its second ever U20 World Cup championship title. As her performances proved so effective, Morgan was invited back into senior-level training camps. 11. Clutch Goal to Advance to 2011 World CupUpon making her senior team debut, Morgan quickly integrated herself into program plans as an emerging next-gen player. After failing to qualify for the 2011 World Cup through initial Concacaf qualifiers with a third-place finish, their senior squad embarked on an extended qualifying effort and ultimately met Italy in an intercontinental playoff over two legs. Morgan scored the one and only goal that secured their squad a place at the 2011 tournament, helping seal its fate for Morgan’s debut at that tournament in 2011. 10. 2011 World Cup DebutWhether 2008 U20 World Cup provided us a peek into Morgan’s future or 2011 World Cup gave him his official debut, Morgan truly made his presence known with one goal after another at both. Morgan was an integral component to Team USA throughout competition, scoring two goals and providing one assist en route to her first senior level World Cup tournament appearance against Japan despite falling just short. Morgan made history by becoming the first woman ever to score and record both goals during an women’s World Cup final matchup!
Getty Images/W. G. Hayworth
9. Western New York FlashMorgan’s inaugural club championship came during their generation’s draft class for WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) league – now defunct. WNY Flash was only around for three seasons prior to joining the NWSL, yet Morgan made her mark upon arriving there by playing 14 matches and scoring four goals, leading them to both regular season title and championship crown wins. Want more coverage of women’s soccer? Read up here on it all. Listen below, and don’t miss Attacking Third on Golazo Network every Monday and Friday for USWNT, NWSL, and WSL women’s soccer coverage.8. After WPS folded, many players affiliated with the national team played an instrumental role in planning for its successor league – now known as NWSL – to take its place. U.S. Soccer provided assistance and commitment from their members for its launch; an allocation system was put into effect and several clubs included new franchises or were existing ones that simply established franchise brands.
Morgan was selected by Portland Thorns FC during an allocation draft prior to their inaugural 2013 season; one of several new women’s soccer franchises launched as part of NWSL. As it expanded, so too did Morgan’s presence among its inaugural rosters – she soon made appearances on other inaugural squads of NWSL franchises as well. She assisted Orlando Pride before their 2016 season began and later San Diego Wave FC before their 2022 campaign began.7. At club levelShe won the 2013 NWSL Championship with the Thorns in their inaugural year – sharing team goal scoring honors with Christine Sinclair while providing an assist during the championship final matchup. She won her league’s Golden Boot with San Diego during their inaugural season and went on to claim the 2023 NWSL Shield with Seattle Wave — awarded as an accolade to teams with most points during regular season play. 5. European LoansThe club level may include temporary transfers into Europe from time-to-time. Morgan joined Olympique Lyon in 2017 and scored five goals across eight appearances with them. Morgan battled through an ongoing hamstring issue while with Lyon and this hindered her performance; nonetheless her time with them paid dividends as Lyon won all three hardware trophies – domestic league title, Coupe de France Feminine trophy and Women’s Champions League trophy!
She made an impactful mark during a short spell at Tottenham before her sole stint in the Women’s Super League (WSL) during an uncertain year – in 2020 when many leagues had been hit hard by Covid-19 pandemic, playing opportunities were different than expected during traditional seasons. Morgan was also returning to play following giving birth in May 2020; for her, it was only an eight month loan experience from September through December. Her greatest impact was her notoriety and influence with the franchise to switch training grounds from their subpar facilities over to men-specific fields for training purposes. 5. Olympic 2012 Semifinal Against CanadaHistorically considered as one of the greatest soccer matchups ever played, Canada and United States collided at Old Trafford to meet in a London Olympic semifinal matchup for Old Trafford’s London Olympic semifinal match-up at Old Trafford in London Olympic 2012. At regulation time, both teams battled back-and-forth until it ended 3-3; extra time would then determine who advanced. Morgan cemented her place on the squad by rising quickly when Heather O’Reilly sent a ball into the box towards Morgan and heading it toward goal as time ran down in second extra time – this became one of Morgan’s defining moments as striker.
4. Championing others in the game Morgan has left an indelible mark beyond her pitch legacy, championing efforts to expand both football and women’s participation opportunities in it. She belonged to a generation of players that pioneered the practice of using one’s personal platform as leverage for larger goals. Morgan has always advocated for improving women’s basketball, allyship with LGBTQ communities, and women’s equity. When her team played friendly matches in Florida and Texas during 2023, Morgan voiced concern regarding protecting trans youth athletes in sports. “With these games in Florida and Texas respectively, it will be essential for us to step it up, have internal discussions as a team as well as openly confront hard conversations or speak out when necessary,” Morgan stated at that time.
3. Read below. As one of Alex Morgan’s many acts of teammate advocacy, Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly’s 2021 report of sexual misconduct allegations by former Portland Thorns teammates against former head coach Paul Riley named Alex Morgan among players they turned to when their concerns were being ignored by former Thorns executives. It grabbed national headlines, brought light onto a league that many were already unaware of and resulted in almost year-long investigations by US Soccer for possible misconduct as well as joint team investigations between NWSL and NWSL Players Association. Prior to the story’s unveiling, Morgan, Shim and Farelly discovered no working protocols or anti-harassment policy in place prior to 2021 story. Morgan played an instrumental role in making change by leading 240 players in signing an open letter addressed to former NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird demanding processes of player protection in league play.
2. Getty Images Announces Semifinal Tea Sip Celebration against England
Morgan may boast an array of hardware in her trophy case, but her iconic celebratory pop during the 2019 World Cup will live on in our memories for eternity. As England and United States faced off in the semifinals, Morgan scored the game-winning goal in the 31st minute and celebrated with an iconic “tea sipping” celebration at corner flag — it was memorable, eye-catching and one of America’s coolest dreams come true! “I believe there’s some kind of double standard when it comes to female sportspeople celebrating success, in terms of not celebrating too profusely or too loudly or publicly,” Morgan explained at the time. The United Soccer Women National Team ultimately went on to defeat Netherlands with an emphatic 2-0 scoreline for victory at World Cup 2019. England took fourth.
1. Equal Pay FightMorgan was one of several names involved with an equal pay lawsuit filed by USSF against her team prior to attending 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in France. Following their EEOC filing and lengthy fight since, the group found itself navigating uncharted waters; yet their knowledge and history as top performers served them well both in public opinion polling as well as throughout legal sessions that spanned multiple years. After years of litigation that seemed endlessly exhausting in nature; finally it all paid off when litigation claims were finally dismissed in February 2022. The national team reached an agreement with its federation for $24 Million that includes World Cup backpay prize money as well as guarantees that both men’s and women’s teams would receive equal pay. In April 2028, both national teams reached an historic collective bargaining agreement that will run until 2028 and includes equal compensation across competitions, World Cups and revenue sharing mechanisms. A larger-scale, very public battle triggered ripple effects: while NWSL were conducting investigations into misconduct within domestic women’s soccer competition, its Players Association were actively negotiating its first CBA. They ultimately signed and ratified it on January 20,2022.
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