SAN DIEGO:
Fighting back tears, Alex Morgan waved to the crowd and exited the field for the final time on Sunday, marking the end of her remarkable 15-year career.
The two-time Women’s World Cup champion had announced on Thursday that she was pregnant with her second child and would be retiring from soccer.
Morgan, wearing the captain’s armband, started for the San Diego Wave in her farewell match, playing the first 13 minutes against the North Carolina Courage before being subbed out to a standing ovation from fans at Snapdragon Stadium.
"What a ride it’s been," Morgan told the crowd in an emotional post-game speech.
Her final appearance with the Wave was her 63rd for the club, honored with a No. 63 jersey presented during a pre-game ceremony. Overall, it marked her 150th career match in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Before the game, the stadium’s video scoreboard showcased highlights from Morgan’s storied career, including moments from her retirement video. Her 4-year-old daughter, Charlie, joined her on the field, and over 95 family members and friends were in attendance to celebrate her achievements.
The Wave’s starting lineup paid tribute to Morgan’s legacy by posing for a photo imitating her iconic "tea sipping" celebration, a nod to her famous goal celebration after scoring the game-winner against England in the 2019 World Cup semifinals.
Morgan’s international career with the U.S. national team was filled with accolades, including World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, and an Olympic Gold medal in 2012. She also played a key role in club soccer, helping the Portland Thorns win the NWSL Championship in the league’s inaugural season and guiding the San Diego Wave to the Shield in 2023.
In total, Morgan earned 224 caps for the U.S. national team, scoring 123 goals (fifth all-time) and providing 53 assists (ninth all-time). She was twice named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, in 2012 and 2018.
As Alex Morgan subbed off, she fought back tears while removing her cleats at midfield. During the emotional substitution, a tifo in the supporter’s section displayed the message, "For Country, Club, Community."
Despite the near 100-degree heat, a crowd of 26,516 packed Snapdragon Stadium for Morgan's farewell. Among the attendees was San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove, who came straight from his game against the San Francisco Giants to watch Morgan’s final match.
"Twelve thousand tickets were sold in just one day after she announced it would be her last game," said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. "That’s the power of Alex Morgan."
Wave fan Amber Brunner, attending the match with her family, shared, “My girls fell in love with soccer because of her.”
Off the field, Morgan was a driving force in the fight for equal pay in women’s soccer. She played a crucial role in the U.S. women’s national team's 2019 lawsuit, which ultimately led to a historic 2022 agreement ensuring equal pay for both the men's and women’s teams.
A young fan at the game held up a sign that read, “Thank you Alex for all of your hard work for women’s sports.”
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