San Diego, Sept 10: Fighting tears, Alex Morgan waved to the crowd and walked off the field for the last time on Sunday as she capped an impactful 15-year career.The two-time Womenās World Cup winner announced on Thursday she was pregnant with her second child and retiring from the game.
She started and wore the captainās armband for the San Diego Wave in her final match, playing for the first 13 minutes against the North Carolina Courage before subbing out of the game to an ovation at San Diegoās Snapdragon Stadium.
āI did everything I ever wanted to do and more. With this decision, I feel so at peace because I am ready to start my family and I am ready to hang up the boots and allow the next generation to flourish and just relish in the spotlight,ā she said afterward. āIts a good feeling.ā
It was her 63rd appearance for the Wave, commemorated by a No. 63 jersey given to Morgan in a pregame ceremony. Overall, it was her 150th career appearance in National Womenās Soccer League play.
Before the match, the video scoreboard showed snippets of Morganās retirement video, along with highlights from her career. Her 4-year-old daughter, Charlie, accompanied her on the field. She had more than 95 family members and friends at the game.
The Waveās starters posed for a photo imitating Morganās iconic ātea sippingā celebration, an homage to her celebration of her go-ahead goal to beat England in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup in France.
Morganās U.S. national team career was full of accomplishments, including World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, and an Olympic Gold medal in 2012. In club play, Morgan played for the NWSL champion Portland Thorns in the leagueās first year and helped the Wave win the Shield in 2023.
Morgan played in 224 matches for the U.S. national team, with 123 goals (fifth on the career list) and 53 assists (ninth). She was named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2012 and 2018.
When she subbed off, she fought back tears as she removed her cleats at midfield. During the substitution, a tifo in the supporterās section read āFor Country, Club, Community.ā
Despite the nearly 100-degree heat, a crowd of 26,516 fans filled Snapdragon for Morganās farewell match. Among them was San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove, who went to the game straight from his start against the San Francisco Giants.