Alex Morgan, one of the most famous and influential women’s soccer players in the history of the United States women’s soccer program, has officially announced her retirement. Her final game was played on September eighth with the San Diego Wave FC.
Soccer player or not, you have likely heard of Alex Morgan. Whether it be for her remarkable goal-scoring highlights, her drive for gender equality in sports, or her captaincy on the Women’s National Team (USWNT), she has made herself a force to be reckoned with even as she makes her way off of the field. “I don’t watch or play soccer,” says Toni Anne Malonzo, senior at Ramapo. “but I’ve definitely heard the name. There’s no denying that she deserves recognition for her influence on the team’s reputation.”
Morgan’s career and accomplishments are incomparable. After 15 years of playing and 224 appearances, she scored 123 goals and made 53 assists. She started 158 of her games and was captain 23 times. In the 86 games in which she scored, none of them were a loss; 76 were a win, and 10 were a draw. Her total goals and assists make her fifth in the rankings of women’s soccer history in the United States, placed behind Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly, and the famous Carli Lloyd (US Soccer).
Morgan created the Alex Morgan Foundation in 2023 in an effort to advocate for women’s equality and opportunities on and off the field. Ranging from Let’s Go South Bay!, a camp focused on girls’ leadership in soccer, to Casa Familiar, a community organization providing education and support to low-income families, she strives to make a difference for women across the globe (Alex Morgan Foundation).
Aubrey Kwon, vice president of Ramapo Women’s Sports Coalition, is one of many to recognize Morgan’s accomplishments in the fight for women’s rights: “I love that she’s using her legacy to continue inspiring girls and women around the world, even after she’s announced her retirement. She is the definition of a role model. I know that she will continue to inspire female athletes and I am excited to see what else she will do.”
Alex Morgan served a very significant role in the six-year fight (2016-2022) for equal pay until, finally, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) agreed to pay female athletes the same as the men’s team. She transitioned this strength of her voice to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she contributed to the firing of head coach Paul Riley, as he was accused of sexually coercing multiple players. She also brought attention to the earlier dismissal of similar accusations from fellow teammates (ESPN).
Two things are for sure: Morgan will continue to be a revered name for all who know her story, and the U.S. Women’s National Team will never be the same without her. There is no doubt that she will persist in her fight to make the USWNT the best environment possible for future players who will shape the program. Who knows; maybe her daughter, Charlie, will be a future star like her mom.
