Soccer legend Alex Morgan retires and says goodbye to the NWSL, the league she helped build

Morgan is the latest USWNT two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner to retire

By Sandra Herrera Sep 8, 2024 at 11:16 pm ET• 8 min read

Alex Morgan said farewell to a storied career spanning over a decade on Sunday, playing 13 minutes in the San Diego Wave's 4-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage. When the U.S. women's national team forward announced her retirement on Thursday, it closed another chapter in one of the greatest stories ever told in women's soccer. She told the media ahead of her last game she'd play "limited minutes" as her retirement news also included a pregnancy announcement. In another memorable moment, she was subbed out of her final game during the 13th minute, in honor of the iconic number she wore throughout her career.

She said goodbye as a member of her third NWSL team and to a league that may not have existed if Morgan and her generation of teammates were not there to help its very foundation. Her achievements are plentiful across the game and her impact was reflected on the last day of her career. Her commercial influence is as vast as ever, as her final game was broadcast across multiple platforms, and the sport and league are in a completely different place than when she first started her career. 

Morgan's departure is just the latest in a slew of farewells by players who were key players during the 2011 to 2019 era for the U.S. women's national team. A generation that saw three consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup finals, won two World Cups, a 2012 Olympic gold medal, and helped kickstart the NWSL.

Saying farewell to another culture changer

Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger stepped away from the game in 2023, as did Julie Ertz, and eventually Sam Mewis. Earlier this year, Kelley O'Hara announced her retirement from the game at the conclusion of her 2024 NWSL season. Former USWNT World Cup winners Sydney Leroux, Christen Press, and Becky Sauerbrunn are among others navigating the later phase of their careers.