SAN DIEGO (AP) — 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.
Despite the nearly 100-degree heat, a crowd of 26,516 filled San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium for Morgan’s farewell match. The two-time Women’s World Cup winner announced on Thursday that she was pregnant with her second child and retiring from the game.
She started and wore the captain’s 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.
“I 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,” she said afterward. “It’s a good feeling.”
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 Women’s Soccer League play.
Before the match, the video scoreboard showed snippets of Morgan’s 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 Wave’s starters posed for a photo imitating Morgan’s iconic ‘tea sipping’ celebration, an homage to her celebration of her go-ahead goal to beat England in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup in France.
Morgan’s 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 London. Morgan played for the NWSL champion Portland Thorns in the league’s 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 supporter’s section read “For Country, Club, Community.”
Among the fans was San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove, who went to the game straight from his start against the San Francisco Giants.
“Twelve thousand tickets were sold in one day when she announced that this was going to be her last game” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said. “That’s the power of Alex Morgan.”
The North Carolina Courage ultimately won the game, 4-1. Morgan attempted a penalty but it was stopped by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy.
But the night was all about celebrating a career.
Wave coach Landon Donovan said his daughter asked him to help her make a sign for Morgan’s last game.
“That stuff is immeasurable because she’s now made my daughter, who didn’t previously watch sports in general, fall in love with a sport, and women’s sports” Donovan said. “That’s what Alex has meant to the game and the sport. And it’s sad to see her go. Honestly, I don’t think there’ll ever be another one like her.”
Wave fan Amber Brunner attended the match with her family, saying “My girls fell in love with soccer because of her.”
Off the pitch, Morgan advanced women’s soccer in her fight for equal pay with the men’s national team. The U.S. women filed a lawsuit in 2019 that led to a historic agreement in 2022 that equitably paid the men and women.
She also paved the way for reforms in the NWSL, calling for the adoption of an anti-harassment policy after a coach misconduct scandal rocked the league in 2021.
A young fan at the game held a sign that said “Thank you Alex for all of your hard work for women’s sports.”
Morgan said she’s looking forward to cheering on the Wave, the U.S. national team and continuing her advocacy for the players.
“The next Alex Morgan is not only out there in the stands, because I am sure that there are a few of those, but they’re there on that field every single weekend,” she said. “It’s just incredible what we’ve been able to do here in the U.S. to really give soccer the best chance for people to buy in as much as we’ve bought in.”