USWNT honors Alex Morgan before Portugal friendly
CHESTER, Pa. — Everywhere fans turned on Thursday at Subaru Park, there were reminders of Alex Morgan’s illustrious U.S. women’s national team career — from the pink pre-wrap headband station bearing her name outside the gates to the Morgan bobbleheads handed out to the first few thousand fans.
U.S. Soccer celebrated Morgan’s career as the USWNT faced Portugal at the same stadium where she scored the first of her 123 international goals in 2010 — a tally that ranks fifth in program history.
Morgan, who retired last year, leaves behind a legacy as a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist.
“You can’t go anywhere in this country without people talking about Alex Morgan,” U.S. head coach Emma Hayes said on Wednesday. “The sport should show a lot of gratitude for that, because it’s important for our players to be recognizable. She is, without question, one of the most recognizable faces in our sport.”
Former teammates Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Ali Krieger and Kelley O’Hara were among those in attendance for the pre-match ceremony. Forward Trinity Rodman, sidelined this camp with a sprained MCL, was also on the sideline to support Morgan.
U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and federation CEO JT Batson presented Morgan — joined by her family — with flowers and a framed jersey featuring the No. 224, representing her total national-team appearances.
“There was nothing she didn’t achieve,” Hayes said. “She epitomized everything this program stands for. She’s an unbelievable credit to her family — her drive, her desire, her determination to prove herself at the highest level are second to none.”
Before kickoff, the videoboard played a segment of current USWNT players answering trivia questions about Morgan’s career and sharing what she has meant to them.
“She has meant so much to me and to the game,” forward Alyssa Thompson said Wednesday. “She’s made the game better. I don’t think I’d be in the position I’m in now without players like Alex who came before me — especially for their fight for equality and equal pay.
“I just want to continue her legacy. What she did on the field can’t be replicated — which is really cool.”
Last month, the San Diego Wave retired Morgan’s No. 13 jersey. She ended her club career with the team and made San Diego home for her family, becoming a minority investor in the franchise earlier this year.
A second video tribute played at halftime Thursday and ended with her daughter, Charlie, saying: “Good night — we out.”
Despite the celebrations, Portugal spoiled the evening, rallying from a goal down to defeat the U.S. 2–1.
