Emotional Morgan exits final game in 13th minute

Forward Alex Morgan played 15 minutes and had a penalty kick saved on Sunday for San Diego Wave FC in her final match as a professional.

Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist, announced Thursday that the Wave’s NWSL home game at Snapdragon Stadium against the North Carolina Courage would be the last of her nearly 14-year career at the international and professional level.

On Sunday, Morgan was denied a dream exit by North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, one of Morgan’s teammates with the United States national team in recent years. Morgan stepped up to the spot after the Wave earned a penalty in the 10th minute, but her left-footed effort was saved by Murphy.

San Diego scored an equalizer three minutes later, and Morgan began leaving the field with just over 13 minutes on the clock, a nod to the No. 13 that she famously wore for club and country over the past decade-plus.

She removed her cleats at midfield and tearfully waved and blew kisses to the crowd — with fans chanting her name — as players from both teams surrounded her and applauded. She was replaced by forward Amirah Ali.

In a first for a women’s sporting event, the game was shown across multiple outlets, including the ESPN networks, simultaneously in the U.S. The Sunday evening game was initially slated to air on NWSL+ and Paramount+.

Morgan said Friday that she would play “limited” minutes on Sunday. On Thursday she announced that in addition to her retirement she is pregnant with her second child.

The USWNT veteran was on the teams that won the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and an Olympic gold medal in 2012, as well as a bronze medal in 2021. She scored 123 goals for the USWNT, fifth most in program history and is one of only seven players to score 100 or more.

Morgan played in four World Cups, including her breakout at the 2011 edition, when the USWNT lost the final to Japan in a penalty shootout.

Domestically, Morgan won the inaugural NWSL title with the Portland Thorns in 2013. She also won a professional title in her rookie season in 2011, with the Western New York Flash in Women’s Professional Soccer, the NWSL’s predecessor.

Morgan won the NWSL Golden Boot in 2022, scoring 15 goals in 17 games while helping the Wave become the first NWSL expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its first season. Last year, the Wave won the NWSL Shield as the best team of the NWSL regular season.

She played in 150 NWSL games, 63 of which were for San Diego. In 2017, Morgan joined Lyon on a short-term deal and won a treble, including the UEFA Champions League.

Morgan wore the captain’s armband for San Diego on Sunday.

Her daughter, 4-year-old Charlie, was her mascot for the walkout and national anthem. Charlie wore a Wave jersey with “MOM 13” on the back. Morgan said she expected about 80 family and friends to attend Sunday’s match, most of whom joined her on the field before the match.