Alex Morgan was born on July 2, 1989 in San Dimas, California where she was the youngest of three daughters. From a very young age, Alex displayed a passion for sports and, despite being on many different sports teams, one in particular captured her attention which was, of course, soccer. As a teen, she put all her focus on playing soccer, which is when her unwavering talent for the sport started to truly shine. Starting out in youth leagues, Morgan quickly rose through the ranks, catching the attention of scouts and coaches. 

She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she very quickly became a standout player, receiving numerous awards on the university soccer team. In 2010, Morgan graduated with a degree in political economy, as well as the reputation as one of the brightest young soccer talents in U.S. soccer. 

Club Career

Alex Morgan’s professional journey after graduation began in 2011 when she was selected as the number one pick in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) draft by the Western New York Flash where she remained for just one season. She then went on to join the Seattle Sounders Women (Sound FC), where she played alongside other soccer legends like Megan Rapinoe. In 2013, Morgan moved onto the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she joined the Portland Thorns FC and played an integral role in taking the team to the NWSL Championship. 

Morgan then transferred to Orlando Pride in 2016, where she also spent time on loan with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in France from 2016 to 2017, and Tottenham Hotspur in England from 2020 & 2021. Her experience playing for two very major European clubs gave Morgan the opportunity to hone her skills further as an athlete. In 2021, she joined San Diego Wave FC, which, at the time, was a brand new team in the NWSL. Little did she know, this change marked the beginning of a legendary chapter in her famous career.

International Success

As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Alex Morgan has achieved remarkable success on the international stage and is considered one of their best players of all time. She made her World Cup debut in 2011 as the youngest player on the team and scored her first World Cup goal during the tournament, which resulted in the U.S. team going to the finals. In 2012, Alex also played a role in securing a gold medal for the U.S. at the London Olympics, marking a historical moment for herself and her team! 

Arguably, Morgan’s most legendary moments in her career came during the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups. In 2015, her speed and goal-scoring prowess played a crucial role in the U.S. Women’s team achieving victory. In 2019, Morgan solidified her status as one of the team’s key players when she scored five goals in a single match, setting a new record for most goals scored in a Women’s World Cup game. Her success continued to be on the rise in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she earned the U.S. team a bronze medal, despite various setbacks from the team earlier on. In 2022, Morgan continued to lead the U.S. team to victory in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, where she scored the winning goal in the final to beat Canada.

Personal Life

Beyond her impressive accomplishments as a top athlete in women’s soccer, Alex Morgan’s influence extends beyond her playing career through her philanthropic efforts. She has dedicated her personal pursuits to becoming a powerful advocate for gender equality. In 2019, Alex and several of her teammates filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. They stood together to fight for the right of equal pay and treatment for the women’s national team. Although their case was dismissed, the women appealed and, in 2022, they reached a settlement with U.S. soccer that will go down in history. The result was a $24 million payment to the USWNT members, as well as an agreement that there would be equal pay in all future tournaments and matches for the men’s and women’s teams. This historical win for women’s rights in soccer was only the beginning for Alex. Since then, she has made it her mission to use her wide reach to bring attention to pay inequality and gender discrimination. 

In 2023, she launched the Alex Morgan Foundation which focuses on supporting and empowering young girls in sports. Morgan has also been a co-founder of ‘Togethxr’, a media platform that amplifies the stories of women in sports and beyond. Her fight for equality in women’s sports has been an inspiration for female athletes around the world and she has helped many young stars reach their goals. 

Alex’s not only a legendary soccer player, but she’s also an accomplished author. After becoming a mother, she was inspired to write a series of books for middle school readers called ‘The Kicks’, which focuses on soccer and the importance of teamwork. The series follows a young girl named Devin as she navigates challenges both on and off the field that many young players will relate to. In addition to the series, Morgan also published a memoir in 2015 called ‘Breakaway: Beyond the Goal’, which offers an inside look into her personal and professional life from her journey as a young soccer player to an international star. Sharing her personal triumphs, challenges, and experiences as one of the top players of her generation has inspired young readers and athletes to pursue their dreams.

Retirement

On September 5, 2024, Alex Morgan announced her retirement from professional soccer following her absence from the U.S. team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. “I’m retiring. I have so much clarity about this decision,” said Alex Morgan in her retirement video. “It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn’t easy, but at the beginning of 2024, I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer. The impact we have on the next generation is irreversible, and I am proud of the hand I had in making that happen, pushing the game forward, and leaving it in a place that I am so happy and proud of.” 

Her retirement marks the end of a 13-and-a-half-year era in the top divisions in the United States and Europe, with Morgan leaving behind a legacy as one of the most inspirational and influential soccer players in history. With over 200 goals won and 88 assists across 337 appearances, Morgan will close her legendary career with San Diego as the all-time goals and assist leader, as well as the top 10 player in the U.S. Women’s National Team history for goals, assists and multi-goal games. 

As Alex moves onto the next chapter of her life where her focus is no longer on pursuing her career in professional soccer, her impact on sports as a whole will withstand the test of time. Whether her legacy is marked by her life changing achievements on the field or her pursuit of equality in sports, Morgan’s influence extends far beyond the soccer pitch and will continue to inspire future generations of athletes going forward!