Alex Morgan Bids Emotional Farewell in NWSL Final

Alex Morgan bid an emotional farewell to professional football on Sunday as she played her final game in the National Women’s Soccer League. The 35-year-old striker, who announced her retirement last week after revealing she is pregnant with her second child captained the San Diego Wave in a 4-1 defeat to North Carolina Courage. Morgan missed a penalty in the 10th minute and exited the game three minutes later.

She received a standing ovation from the 26,516 fans in attendance. After the match, she addressed the crowd, reflecting on her remarkable career: “What a ride it’s been.” Throughout her 15-year career at the top level of women’s football, Morgan played a crucial role in the USA teams that won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019. She also earned a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Morgan, who has 224 international caps and 123 goals for the USA ranking fifth on the all-time list did not make the 2024 Paris Olympics team under new manager Emma Hayes. Morgan actively advocated for gender equality in football. In 2019, she and other national team players filed a discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer over equal pay which the parties resolved in 2022.

In her club career, Alex Morgan won a league title with Portland in 2013 and joined Lyon in January 2017 where she helped the team achieve a treble-winning season including the Women’s Champions League. She also had a brief stint with Tottenham in the Women’s Super League in 2020. Morgan’s career stands out for her contributions both on and off the pitch leaving a lasting legacy in women’s football.