SAN DIEGO — Alex Morgan is saying goodbye.
Nearly two decades after first shining on the soccer fields at Diamond Bar High School just a couple of hours north of San Diego, and later for the entire world, the San Diego Wave forward ended her historic and remarkable career on Sunday. After announcing her intended retirement on Thursday, Morgan took the field one last time.
“I’m retiring,” the U.S. women’s national team icon said on social media, days ahead of her final match at Snapdragon Stadium. “I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you.”
A product of the sunny southern California environment, the sweltering 101-degree conditions ahead of her retirement game almost rivaled Morgan’s own scorching path on which she amassed World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal, 123 USWNT goals, an NWSL Shield and championship, and a number of other accolades. It also explained how the overwhelming heat in San Diego did little to stop the tens of thousands who were eager to watch her final appearance against the North Carolina Courage.
Heading into the stadium, a wide array of giddy fans were filing in to form part of the 26,516-strong crowd.
“She’s just such a big inspiration, on and off the field,” Nina Asnani, a local ninth-grader, said before the game. “She’s setting up a better future for the next generation of girls, and she’s going to make it easier for girls to want to play soccer.”
Morgan’s story isn’t one that involves just what’s happening on the pitch.
Since her retirement announcement, there’s been widespread appreciation for her efforts that have involved fighting for equal pay, improved conditions for women’s soccer athletes, and also creating a more viable path to a professional career for the next generation. And that’s not lost on girls who admire Morgan.
“Inequality in sports has always been a big thing to me, even in elementary [school], when I was the only girl on the field,” said Nina who, after being inspired by Morgan, worked on an “Inequality in Sports” project with Girl Scouts.
Like countless other girls in the San Diego area, Nina has taken part in events with the Alex Morgan Foundation, which has had a strong presence throughout the community and at games. On Sunday and in previous matches at Snapdragon, the foundation has regularly given away 15 tickets (plus two for chaperones) for youth girls’ teams in San Diego in an area of the stadium called Alex’s Homebreak.
Shortly before kickoff, like many other bustling spaces at Snapdragon, the atmosphere was electric and filled with anticipatory energy.
“Every Homebreak team — in Year 1 it was just soccer teams, in Year 2 we opened it up to a few community groups, but in Year 3 it was this beautiful mix of girls’ soccer teams, girls’ softball teams, girls’ basketball teams, girls’ volleyball teams, multisport — she wants to know every group that’s coming,” Laura Wolf Stein, executive director of the Alex Morgan Foundation, told ESPN.
According to Stein, over 900 girls and coaches have taken part in Alex’s Homebreak in the past three seasons.
“She knows it’s a really big deal for some of these families to get these girls to these games, but she believes in her core, in her heart, that if you can see it, you can be it,” Stein added. “It’s not just about being a professional soccer player, it’s knowing the impact that sports can have on all areas of your life.”
With the assistance of Morgan’s foundation, 115 girls since last year have taken part in an empowerment camp at no cost, with $200,000 in cash grants also given to the foundation’s partners.
And on Sunday, many of those youth players who can become the next great American star, waved to a tearful Morgan who walked out onto the field, ready to play. Following the video of her “goodbye” social media post being played on the big screen and some scene-setting fireworks, Morgan was the first to touch the ball from the kickoff. The roar from the crowd, interspersed with piercing screams from kids in attendance, made the atmosphere feel more like a concert than a soccer match.
“She’s an American Beatle, the girls go crazy over her the way kids did with The Beatles,” James Frey, an author who has collaborated on books with Morgan, told ESPN. “She’s a superhero for young girl soccer players, because she’s a superhero on the field.
“She’s charismatic and really easy to root for.”
Early on in the game, it was easy to see the hunger of a talented player who wanted to make her mark. Morgan pressed high, tracked back to defend, and connected well with her front line.
“What I have seen in three weeks behind the scenes is that she is constantly pushing,” interim Wave coach Landon Donovan told ESPN ahead of the match. “How much she cares about doing things at the very highest level has been really fun for me to watch, and it’s really great for her teammates because they look up to her so much.”
When Wave allowed a goal in the fourth minute, Morgan cheered on the rest of her XI and by the fifth, she stole a ball and forced a corner after taking a powerful shot on target. There were many flashes of brilliance from a player who has taken opponents by storm since her teens.
“She was a memorable player,” Kemp Wells, Morgan’s high school coach in her junior and senior year, said.
Reminiscing on a noteworthy performance from her youth, Wells highlighted a game in which the young striker was not only marked by two opposing players, but also had a sweeper who was keeping an eye on her as well.
“It has been fun to watch her succeed at such a high level,” Wells added.
That said, success, as is regularly the case, is never a perfect path and on a celebratory day, she was still denied that ideal ending. In the 10th minute, the Wave won a penalty after Denise O’Sullivan handled the ball inside the area. As though written by the soccer gods themselves, Morgan stepped up, but the proverbial scriptwriters added a twist. Leaping in the right direction, North Carolina goalkeeper Casey Murphy denied Morgan’s effort.
“We’ve talked about a lot of things and mostly about this year, this year has been really challenging for her,” Donovan said. “We talked about goal-scoring and how challenging that is when you don’t score for a while. I’ve been there too.”
For the marquee striker, the moment was indicative of a rough year in which she’s struggled to find the back of the net. And yet, it also highlighted how she does other things that can go unnoticed. In a separate but similar manner that she’s supported the next generation of girls off the field, Morgan uplifted her team moments later.
“She just does all these little things and you realize why she’s been a winner her whole career,” Donovan said before the game. “So there’s lots of things she does that people don’t see that are what make her so elite.”
Showcasing the drive and confidence that have made her a household name, Morgan once again forced a corner, thereby giving the Wave another dangerous opportunity. With María Sánchez looping a cross in, defender Kennedy Wesley then found the back of the net in the 13th minute, which just so happens to be Morgan’s jersey number.
Not long after the goal — and with an obvious nod for the No. 13 who was only expected to have a short appearance — the American legend was ready for her exit just over 13 minutes into her game. With the match momentarily paused for her substitution, Morgan took off her cleats, removed her shin guards and waved to the crowd with tears in her eyes. The 35-year-old’s teammates, along with every Courage player, applauded as she left the pitch.
“It’ll be nice for her to be celebrated by everybody because she deserves that and she’s earned that,” Donovan said. “She deserves to be celebrated in every way.”
At least through the emotions at the stadium, the result felt secondary to the Morgan’s celebration. Highlighted by an eerie and sudden hush of the crowd after the applause died down for the veteran striker who was subbed out, Morgan’s absence was immediately felt when she sat on the bench. Eventually losing 4-1 clearly doesn’t help for Wave fans, but the only true moments of eardrum-piercing cheers emerged when the camera cut to Morgan, closely watching the game close out on the sideline.
Nonetheless, the celebration returned in an encore.
After the final whistle, the stadium once again erupted when Morgan reentered the scene. With flowers in hand from her daughter, the retiring player took center stage with a microphone in hand.
“I want to thank my teammates, who have constantly challenged me every day and made me better. I want to thank my family, who have relentlessly supported me, sacrificed so much for me. I love you guys and all 95 of you [in the stands],” Morgan said with a smile. The gratitude continued, including for those supporters who traveled from across the country after learning about the retirement announcement just days earlier.
“I know people have come here with three days’ notice,” an emotional Morgan said. “This last moment I share on the field with you, I will cherish forever, thank you.”
Soaking in the moment, the legend grasped her goodbye as long as possible. For an hour, she walked the perimeter of the field, waving to supporters, taking photos, hugging teammates, signing autographs and holding onto her final moment. Security, powerless with their cries of “the venue is now closed,” were no match for the fervor of the Morgan die-hards who ignored the directions and remained in the stands well after the final whistle.
“She is just amazing, and what she gave to our community, our family,” Carmen Asnani, Nina’s mother, said ahead of Morgan’s farewell. “As a mom, I’m so grateful for Alex who gave this opportunity to my entire family.