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A16 SPORTS
Friday 6 September 2024

Alex Morgan retires from professional soccer and is expecting her

second child

By ANNE M. PETERSON I gave everything to this Morgan will play her final cer League, on Sunday at States national team, Mor-
AP Soccer Writer sport and what I got in re- match with her club team, Snapdragon Stadium. gan made an impact on
With two Women’s World turn was more than I could the San Diego Wave of the Over the course of a 15- and off the field, fighting
Cup titles and an Olympic have ever dreamed of.” National Women’s Soc- year career with the United for equal pay and speak-
gold medal, Alex Morgan ing out about social justice
is retiring from professional issues.
soccer as one of the Unit- In addition to World Cup
ed States national team’s titles in 2015 and 2019, Mor-
most prolific scorers and as gan also won a gold med-
someone who helped lead al with the United States at
the fight for equal pay. the 2012 London Olympics
The 35-year-old Morgan, and a bronze at the Tokyo
who said she is pregnant Games in 2021. She first
with her second child, joined the national team in
made the announcement 2009.
on Thursday in a social me- Morgan played in 224
dia post. matches for the national
At times during the heart- team, ninth-all time, with
felt message, Morgan was 123 goals (fifth all-time) and
near tears. 53 assists (ninth all-time).
“This decision wasn’t easy, She was named the U.S.
but at the beginning of Soccer Player of the Year in
2024 I felt in my heart and 2012 and 2018.
soul that this was the last Her final game with the
season that I would play United States came on
soccer,” she said. “Soccer June 4, 2024, against South
has been a part of me for Korea. She was not on the
30 years, and it was one of roster of players that won
the first things that I ever Alex Morgan, a member of the United States women’s national soccer team, speaks to reporters the gold medal at the Paris
loved. during a news conference in New York, Friday, May 24, 2019. Associated Press Olympics.q