Alex Morgan Leaves Final Game Early in San Diego, Feeling Emotional

Alex Morgan took to the field for the final time on Sunday, playing 15 minutes for San Diego Wave FC in a poignant farewell to her professional soccer career. The two-time World Cup champion had announced just days earlier that this match at Snapdragon Stadium against the North Carolina Courage would mark the end of her impressive nearly 14-year journey in both international and professional soccer.

During the match, Morgan’s farewell didn’t go as she had envisioned. After her team earned a penalty in the 10th minute, she stepped up to take the kick, hoping to cap her career with a goal. However, North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, a teammate from the United States national team, made a remarkable save, denying Morgan’s left-footed effort.

Quickly regrouping, San Diego managed to score an equalizer just three minutes later. As the clock ticked down to just over 13 minutes remaining, Morgan began to leave the pitch, paying homage to her storied career wearing the number 13, which she held proudly for both club and country.

In an emotional moment, she took off her cleats at midfield and bid farewell to the fans, blowing kisses and waving goodbye amidst the chants of her name. Players from both the Wave and Courage surrounded her, applauding the iconic forward. Morgan was then replaced by Amirah Ali.

Before the game, Morgan had shared that she would play a “limited” number of minutes. Alongside her retirement announcement, she revealed that she is pregnant with her second child, marking a significant transition in her life.

As a standout player on the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), Morgan boasts a stellar legacy. She was a key player in the teams that clinched the World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Furthermore, she was part of the squad that won an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and secured a bronze in 2021. Over her international career, Morgan scored 123 goals, ranking her fifth in the all-time scoring list for the USWNT. She is one of just seven players to surpass the 100-goal mark.

Her international journey included participation in four World Cups, with her breakout performance occurring in 2011, though the USWNT fell short in the final to Japan after a penalty shootout.

On the domestic front, Morgan won the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title with the Portland Thorns in 2013. She also enjoyed success in her rookie season in 2011 with the Western New York Flash, the league’s predecessor.

In 2022, Morgan earned the NWSL Golden Boot, netting 15 goals in 17 matches, helping the Wave make history as the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its debut season. The following year, her team captured the NWSL Shield, awarded to the league’s best regular-season team.

Throughout her career, Morgan participated in 150 NWSL matches, including 63 games for the San Diego Wave. In 2017, she had a short term stint with Lyon, where she achieved treble glory, including winning the UEFA Champions League.

On the day of her final match, she wore the captain’s armband for San Diego. The heartfelt moments included her four-year-old daughter, Charlie, who acted as her mascot for the match’s walkout and national anthem, proudly sporting a Wave jersey with “MOM 13” emblazoned on the back. Morgan mentioned that she anticipated around 80 family and friends attending the match, several of whom joined her on the field before the game started.