Alex Morgan Announces Retirement And Pregnancy Ahead Of Final Game

After a decorated 15-year playing career with the U.S. Women’s National Team, Alex Morgan has announced her retirement from professional soccer. Morgan scored 123 goals for the USA and 23 goals and 50 appearances for San Diego Wave FC in the NWSL.

The forward also shared that she is pregnant with her second child. Morgan’s final match will be on Sunday, September 8 as the Wave hosts the North Carolina Courage.

Leaving an Impact for the Next Generation

At the national team level, Morgan is known as a two-time World Cup Champion (2015, 2019) U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year (2012, 2018) and an Olympic Gold Medalist (2012) while also winning the NWSL Shield in 2023 with the Wave.

As a legendary player on the pitch, Morgan has also made monumental strides off the pitch as she’s paved the way forward for equal pay with the USWNT and continues to provide opportunities for girls and moms through the Alex Morgan Foundation.

“I am so incredibly honored to have borrowed the crest for more than 15 years,” said Morgan. “I learned so much about myself in that time and so much of that is a credit to my teammates and our fans. I feel immense pride in where this team is headed, and I will forever be a fan of the USWNT. My desire for success may have always driven me, but what I got in return was more than I could have ever asked and hoped for.”

ForbesUSWNT Legend Alex Morgan To Retire From The GameBy Asif Burhan

Morgan has played with San Diego Wave FC since its inaugural season in 2022 and at each home game, there is a banner that reads, ‘Alex’s Home Break’ as Morgan purchases tickets and selects a group of athletes to see her play at Snapdragon Stadium.

Along with the home break section, Morgan partners with two San Diego based programs called Let’s Go South Bay! and Casa Familiar to help support access to more soccer for young girls and to help low-income individuals through their education, outreach and community building opportunities.

As the NWSL continues to grow at a high rate, Morgan has also been a key figure in advocating for the players as she is a player representative for San Diego Wave FC in the NWSL Players Association.

When the NWSL faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse in 2021, Morgan used her voice to echo the concerns of her former teammate and friend, Mana Shim as she called out the former Commissioner of the NWSL.

Closing Out A Successful Career

Throughout her NWSL career, Morgan played with the Portland Thorns for three seasons and spent six seasons with the Orlando Pride.

When Morgan was traded to San Diego, her deal with the Pride made a league-record at the time as she was traded for $275,000 in allocation money.

In the Wave’s home opener for the 2022 season, Morgan scored all four goals as the Wave defeated Gotham FC 4-0, making her the third player in NWSL history to achieve the milestone.

“I have so much clarity about this decision,” said Morgan in her retirement video. “It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn’t easy, but at the beginning of 2024, I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer. The impact we have on the next generation is irreversible, and I am proud of the hand I had in making that happen, pushing the game forward, and leaving it in a place that I am so happy and proud of.”

Morgan is ranked fifth in all-time goals for the USWNT at 176 goals behind fellow legends, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd.

Morgan was named to the FIFA FIFPRO World XI six times, the second most of any player in history. Additionally, she was named Concacaf Female Player of the Year four times, including winning the inaugural award in 2013.

Although the Wave have dealt with several challenges in the 2024 NWSL regular season, San Diego will honor Morgan ahead of their home match this weekend as they host the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, September 8 at 5pm PT/8pm ET.