Alex Morgan retires: learn more about the iconic player

Normally, 13 might not seem like a lucky number, but by wearing it on the back of her jersey, Alex Morgan has become a household name in women’s professional soccer. Morgan, a striker for the NWSL’s San Diego Wave and a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, announced her retirement from professional soccer on Thursday, September 5, in an emotional video posted to her social media, captioned simply, “Thank you.”

“I’m going to get to the point real quick. I’m retiring,” Morgan said to kick off her announcement. The legend has scored over 123 goals during her time with the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) and ranks in the top 10 in USWNT history in goals, assists and multi-goal games, according to U.S. Soccer.

Morgan also announced her second pregnancy in the video, saying that her daughter Charlie is going to be a big sister. Her last game is this weekend against North Carolina Courage.

Morgan previously played for Orlando Pride. She made her World Cup debut in 2011 as the youngest member of the squad at age 22 and is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 2012 Olympic semifinal against Canada, leading the U.S. team to that gold medal.

Off the field, Morgan has also been part of the USWNT’s passionate fight for equal pay, which resulted in a historic equal pay agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation and recently earned them an ESPY Award. Morgan has become such an icon that an 825-pound statue of her, posing like the Statue of Liberty, is touring the U.S. in celebration of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Football has been a part of me for 30 years and it was one of the first things I ever loved. And I gave everything to this game and what I got back was more than I could have ever imagined,” Morgan said in her farewell video, later adding: “I am so shaped into who I am because of you, because of football, and I am eternally grateful.”

Morgan also helped launch the sports media platform Togethxr, known for their iconic “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” gear, and her own foundation. She has always strived to use her impact to fight for equality and diversity in sports, in the same way she fought for equal pay with the USWNT.

In her retirement video, Morgan describes the pride she felt when her daughter Charlie recently told her she wanted to be a soccer player when she grew up. “Not because I want her to be a soccer player… but because there is a path that even a 4-year-old can see right now. We are changing lives and the impact we are having on the next generation is irreversible. And I’m proud of the hand I had in making that happen, in moving the game forward, in leaving it in a place that I’m so happy and proud of,” Morgan says in her video.

Read more about Morgan’s story on her website. Check out more facts about the incredibly talented player and advocate below.