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United States Women’s national team greats alex morgan Friday said she is happy with her upcoming retirement after helping put the future of women’s football in “an amazing place”.
San Diego Wave FC Ahead announced on thursday on that sunday NWSL Games against North Carolina Courage This will be the final match of her illustrious career, she said, adding that she is expecting her second child.
“We’re in good hands, the future of women’s football, right now, the present and the future of women’s football is in such an amazing place where I’ve done everything I needed to do,” Morgan said at a news conference ahead of her departure on Friday.
“To see those guys go out there and do a job and to be able to do it at such a young age with such a voice and confidence, that’s what it’s all about. So I’m just happy to be here and say yes, I am retiring.”
Morgan, a two-time World Cup champion and 2012 Olympic gold medallist, said she wants her legacy to be what she has helped achieve off the field.
Morgan was one of five players who filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for pay discrimination in 2016. The team sued US Soccer in 2019, citing unequal pay and treatment compared to the men’s national team. The suit was settled, and the two sides reached a settlement in 2022. agreeing to collective bargaining agreements which provide equal pay and benefits to teams.
Morgan was also one of the key persons in bringing this incident to light. NWSL abuse scandal in 2021, which led to the dismissal or resignation of five league coaches and the launch of an investigation that found systemic abuse and misconduct.
“I had a responsibility, not only to fight for equal pay, to fight for equality in the sport… to uplift and protect players, but to make the sport a way to play and earn a living,” the 35-year-old said. “Whether it was 16, 18, 20, 21, I wanted players to have that outlet and feel like they had the resources to perform at their best from that age. I think I did my job.
“I hope my legacy will be that I grew the game, I helped gain respect for the women’s game, I increased the value and investment in the women’s game, I helped the players.”
Morgan debuted with the USWNT in 2010 and has scored 123 goals in 224 matches to rank fifth on the team’s all-time scoring charts. Despite being a key figure appearing in four World Cups, she was left out of the squad for the 2024 Olympics, where the team won gold.
“This year has been tough mentally and physically, with injuries, with a key (USWNT) roster being out,” Morgan said. “(But) it was a year I’m very grateful for, no matter how many ups and downs it had.”
The striker will now look to put on a stellar performance for the Wave team that is currently 12th in the NWSL standings. Coming into Sunday’s match, the team hasn’t registered a win in the league since May.
“I’ll be playing a limited amount of time this weekend, but still, it’s an honor to tie my shoes up and step out on the field one last time.”
Just hours after Morgan’s Thursday announcement, the Wave revealed that the lower bowl of Snapdragon Stadium had already sold out. The venue currently holds the record for the most-attended NWSL playoff game, with a total of 32,262 fans watching the semifinal between the Wave and OL Reign (now known as the Seattle Reign) in 2023.
“It’s not just a celebration of me, it’s a celebration of everyone who helped me get here,” Morgan said of her final match.
As for what’s next, he ruled out any potential job on the sidelines.
“I don’t think coaching is in my future,” Morgan said. “I feel I’ve achieved my goal by investing in the women’s game, doing everything I can to give the women’s game as big a platform as possible.
“What my role will be after football is still to be determined.”
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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