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USWNT star Alex Morgan – considered one of the most-decorated players in the history of the U.S. Women’s Soccer – announced on Thursday that she will retire from soccer after her final match Sunday with the San Diego Wave. In a four-minute, 33-second video posted to her social media with the caption ‘Thank you
’, Morgan, 35, announced that she had decided to retire, and also announced that she is pregnant with her second child.
Morgan said: “I’m going to get to the point quickly: I’m retiring… I have so much clarity about this decision and I’m so happy to be able to finally tell you. 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 I would play soccer. Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years and it was one of the first things that I ever loved. I gave everything to this sport. What I got in return was more than I could have ever dreamed of.”
Morgan is a two-time World Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist. She will go down as one of the greatest goalscorers in USWNT history, finishing her illustrious career with 123 goals (fifth most in program history) in 224 international appearances. Her 123 goals trail only Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Carli Lloyd and Kristine Lilly. The former team captain also totaled the ninth-most assists (53). Morgan won a gold medal at London 2012 and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. Morgan also was a member of World Cup winning teams in 2014 and 2019. She was on the second-place squad at the 2011 World Cup.
U.S. Soccer posted a video tribute to Morgan after news of her retirement went public (HERE), captioned: Two-time Women’s World Cup Champion and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Alex Morgan announced her retirement from professional soccer on September 5, 2024. She closes her incredible international career with 224 caps, 123 goals and 53 assists, and led the USWNT to three world championships. Her undeniable impact on the field is matched by a remarkable influence on the broader game, championing women’s soccer and female athletes worldwide through her advocacy for equity, accessibility and support for mothers
Morgan said in her video: “Success for me is defined by never giving up and giving your all and I did just that. Giving my all every single day on the field, and I did that. Giving my all in the relentless push for global investment in women’s sports because we deserve that. Giving my all in my various businesses beyond the soccer fields and giving my all as a mom to my daughter, Charlie. Charlie came up to me the other day and said that when she grows up she wants to be a soccer player and it just made me immensely proud, not because I wish for her to become a soccer player when she grows up, but because a pathway exists that even a 4-year-old can see now. We’re changing lives and the impact we have on the next generation is irreversible. I’m proud of the hand I had in making that happen and pushing the game forward and leaving it in a place that I’m so happy and proud of.”
Morgan will play her final professional game for the San Diego Wave on Sunday against the North Carolina Courage at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday in San Diego. The Wave also announced that they will celebrate Morgan’s career at their final home match Nov. 3 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Editorial credit: Jose Breton- Pics Action / Shutterstock.com
