Sports
Ranking the greatest moments of USWNT, NWSL star Alex Morgan’s career
Alex Morgan will be honored and have her jersey retired when the San Diego Wave host the Houston Dash on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN+. Ahead of the ceremony, ESPN is republishing this list of her greatest career moments, which was originally published on Sept. 7, 2024. The original article is below.
U.S. women’s national team forward Alex Morgan’s incredible career will end Sunday when she plays her final match for San Diego Wave FC after announcing her retirement (and pregnancy) to the world Thursday.
Morgan’s career will go down among the most legendary in a long lineage of USWNT stars. She scored 123 international goals, which ranks fifth in U.S. history. She won two World Cups, earned Olympic gold and bronze medals and won professional championships in multiple leagues in addition to a Champions League title in Europe.
Despite that, her legacy off the field as an ally to players and advocate for equality is just as important.
Boiling down her career to only a few moments is a fool’s errand. But here are 13 moments — in honor of the number she wore for a generation — that defined her decade and a half playing at the highest level.
13. First international goal, 2010
Let’s start at the beginning of her senior career: Morgan’s first international goal came in only her third cap, just over six months after her USWNT debut in the famous “snow angels” game in Utah.
Her first goal, on Oct. 6, 2010, was a late equalizer against China to secure a 1-1 draw in a friendly. The timing of the goal, and the combination with Abby Wambach (who assisted) foreshadowed what was to come. Morgan had already scored the winning goal in the 2008 U-20 World Cup final, which led people to tab her for success at the senior level. This was the first proof point for that.
12. NWSL title, 2013
Morgan was originally allocated to the Portland Thorns FC, placing the game’s most popular player in what would quickly become one of the best women’s soccer markets in the world. The Thorns’ season was far from perfect, and Morgan endured a minor knee injury late in the campaign, but she returned in time to play in the final with a large knee brace on her left leg, and she assisted Christine Sinclair‘s stoppage-time insurance goal to clinch the inaugural NWSL championship.
Morgan’s time on the field in Portland wasn’t entirely glorious, but this moment was another professional title early in her career on the same field she won the first — the WPS championship with Western New York Flash in 2011 — in Rochester, New York.
11. Gold Cup return, 2024
Yes, Morgan’s 2024 will be defined by the heartbreak of being cut from the Olympics followed by an abrupt retirement, but the narrative looked a lot different only a few months before that. Morgan’s last hurrah with the USWNT served as a microcosm of her relentless competitiveness. Over the past two years, she has responded to numerous challenges to her place on the national team.
Morgan had not scored a goal for the USWNT in nearly a year, including a 2023 World Cup that went horribly for almost every U.S. player, knocked out in the round of 16. The U.S. was in a time of transition while awaiting the arrival of new coach Emma Hayes, and Morgan was dropped ahead of the Concacaf W Gold Cup, a sign that the end of a glittering international career was near.
But Mia Fishel tore her ACL the day before the opening match, and Morgan packed her bag to drive a few hours and rejoin the team. She came off the bench in the opener against Dominican Republic and buried a late penalty for her first goal in 363 days, reestablishing herself as the team’s No. 9 at that tournament.
10. First pro goal, 2011
Morgan was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WPS draft, the star college player who was brought in to play alongside legends Marta, Christine Sinclair and Caroline Seger.
Morgan scored her first professional goal on May 1, 2011, only three games into her career with the Flash (the video of this appears to be lost to the internet.)
Morgan helped the Flash win the 2011 WPS title, the last trophy ever lifted in the fledgling league. Among the video that still exists from that season is an audacious goal she scored in Boston.
9. Loan to Lyon, 2017
Lost in the shuffle of Morgan’s domestic and international career is her status as a Champions League winner.
Morgan joined Lyon in January 2017 and spent half a season there, getting her first taste of European club soccer. Her stint with Lyon was brief, and she was subbed out of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain early because of a hamstring injury, but she still added the European crown to her list of honors.
Equally important, Morgan made the move to Lyon to improve and mature her game in a less comfortable setting.
“My motivation is pretty simple,” she said in a Players’ Tribune story at the time. “I hope that this change will help push my game to another level. I hope that training with these incredible athletes each day, and learning a unique style of play, is exactly what I need, and that it will help me find that next gear.”
She returned to the NWSL to have one of her best stretches of play to date, helping the Orlando Pride — the franchise that effectively made acquiring Morgan from Portland a condition of its 2015 NWSL launch — make the playoffs for the first time. The jaunt to Europe helped Morgan add nuance to her game, which was beneficial in the years that followed.
8. USWNT goal No. 100, 2019
Morgan’s 100th international tally (watch here) came against Australia in an important friendly ahead of the 2019 World Cup. She became just the seventh U.S. woman to reach the 100-goal mark.
It’s an arbitrary number to some degree, sure, but it is a good benchmark for the truly elite of the program. By this point, Morgan was already in that conversation. Statistically, this further affirmed that.
7. Returning from maternity leave to win bronze, 2021
Morgan gave birth to her first child, daughter Charlie, in May 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. By November, Morgan made her debut with Tottenham Hotspur in England on a brief stint aimed at getting her back to match fit.
The pandemic delayed the Olympics to summer 2021, giving Morgan a shot at another medal. She returned to the national team a few weeks after that debut with Tottenham, and she worked her way back into the lineup to help the USWNT win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games.
6. Fighting back from injury to win World Cup, 2015
The 2015 World Cup didn’t exactly go as planned for Morgan because of a knee injury leading up to the tournament. But she managed to be fit enough to start by the end of it, and she scored once, in a round of 16 victory over Colombia that was not as comfortable as it should have been.
This was not a breakout World Cup for Morgan, nor a title that she served as the protagonist for, but it was the first of two World Cup trophies with her playing a central role.
5. Winning the NWSL Golden Boot, 2022
A valid criticism of Morgan’s game had been that she hadn’t put together a truly memorable club season as a professional. That changed emphatically in 2022, and allows Morgan to retire without much “yeah, but” about her club career.
Morgan scored 15 goals in 17 games for the San Diego Wave to win the NWSL Golden Boot and lift the Wave to the playoffs, a first for an NWSL expansion team. Among her standout performances was a four-goal beating of NJ/NY Gotham FC early in the season. She became only the third player to score four goals in an NWSL game.
Her league form commanded a recall to the USWNT for World Cup and Olympic qualifying in 2022, and the 2023 World Cup, just after it looked like the team might be moving on from her.
4. World Cup playoff goal, 2010
The 2011 World Cup was the catalyst of the USWNT’s current popularity, but the No. 1-ranked team in the world nearly didn’t qualify for the event. After a shocking upset loss to Mexico in qualifying, the U.S. had to play a two-leg playoff against Italy for the last of 16 spots in the tournament.
Morgan had only debuted for the U.S. the month prior, but she was already clutch. She scored deep into second-half stoppage time to give the Americans a crucial 1-0 aggregate lead ahead of the home leg the following week. The U.S. beat Italy 1-0 again outside of Chicago, and the Americans advanced.
Morgan’s goal in Padua, Italy, was scored in relative obscurity, well before the days of ubiquitous streaming. It is, however, one of many crucial tallies in the USWNT’s recent history. Without 2011, the team’s growth doesn’t follow. And without Morgan’s goal in Italy, there might not have been a 2011 World Cup for the USWNT.
3. World Cup final performance, 2011
This was the start of the wider world truly paying attention to Morgan. She came off the bench in a scoreless World Cup final to net the first goal (watch here) of the match against Japan after breaking free of Saki Kumagai, who was emerging as one of the world’s top defenders. Morgan jumped up from the ground to let out a scream after scoring.
A wild ending ensued, with the U.S. and Japan trading goals to finish 2-2 after 120 minutes before Japan prevailed in penalty kicks.
Everyone remembers the tea-sipping celebration because it was a badass moment of taunting in a World Cup semifinal. Morgan’s headed goal (watch here) served as the game winner — on her 30th birthday, and in Lyon, where she had played on loan. The goal was Morgan’s sixth of the tournament after another historic feat: she scored five goals in the USWNT’s 13-0 victory over Thailand, tying the single-game record for a player at a World Cup. Her efforts were largely overshadowed by Megan Rapinoe‘s heroics, as she won the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for best player, but Morgan was integral to a second straight World Cup title for player and country. Morgan won the silver boot, finishing tied with Rapinoe on goals (six) and assists (three) but having played more minutes. “Ohhh, it’s in! Alex Morgan has done it!” Broadcaster Arlo White’s call met the epic moment of what was arguably her greatest match. Morgan met the moment with the game-winning goal in the 123rd minute to cement her stardom at Old Trafford, Manchester. The tally was the final blow of a 4-3 win with rival Canada in a bonkers match that would lead to a third straight Olympic gold medal for the Americans. The match and the goal are unforgettable lore in USWNT history. That year, Morgan had 28 goals and 21 assists, joining Mia Hamm (1998) as the only player to tally 20 or more of each in a single calendar year. This year — and this goal, in this game — marked the official arrival of Morgan as a bona fide star.
2. Silver Boot at the World Cup, 2019
1. Olympic semifinal game winner, 2012
Real Madrid are looking at Bayern Munich‘s Dayot Upamecano and Liverpool‘s Ibrahima Konaté as free-agent signings, while Federico Chiesa is linked with a move to Turkey. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s grades | Women’s grades
TOP STORIES
– Konaté on Madrid talk: Mbappé calls every 2 hours
– Sources: Man Utd’s Onana in talks with Trabzonspor
– Alex Morgan unworried by stars leaving NWSL
TRENDING RUMORS
– A move for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano is being lined up by Real Madrid, according to Bild. Los Blancos are interested in signing the 26-year-old, who entered the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena in the summer, as they continue to identify future options to reinforce their defence. The Bundesliga champions are expected to prioritise signing Upamecano to a new deal by beginning negotiations soon. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that the LaLiga club are also looking at Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté. The Reds are yet to secure the 26-year-old’s future at Anfield beyond the summer of 2026, and after Real Madrid made an enquiry in the summer, they are prepared to make another move if an opportunity arises to sign him as a free agent.
– Besiktas have had an approach for Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa dismissed, reports Fabrizio Romano. The Super Lig are keen to sign a winger before the transfer window closes on Friday, but the Reds are unwilling to consider a loan offer for the 27-year-old. Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 30, is also on the radar of clubs in Turkey, but he is yet to make a final decision on his future as the Blues look to part ways with him.
– There are no plans by Barcelona to send on-loan winger Marcus Rashford back to Manchester United in January despite reports, according to The Sun. The Blaugrana and manager Hansi Flick are “still giving their full support” to the 27-year-old, who has played 95 minutes across three LaLiga matches. An option clause in the loan deal agreed with the Red Devils would allow him to be signed for a fee of £30 million.
– AC Milan want Christian Pulisic to sign a new contract, reports Calciomercato. The Rossoneri have made contact with the 26-year-old’s representatives as they look to agree a new four-year deal, with manager Massimiliano Allegri considering the 26-year-old to be a key part of his project. The Serie A club are also aware of interest from other clubs. Pulisic turned down a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in the summer.
– Lazio remain keen on free agent winger Lorenzo Insigne, according to Calciomercato. The 34-year-old has been without a club since leaving Toronto FC in the summer, and he has his sights set on a return to Serie A. The club’s hierarchy are exploring options to improve their financial situation to make a deal possible, and they could have to offload players.
EXPERT TAKE
1:56
Onuoha reflects on Onana’s ‘horrendous spell’ at Man United
Nedum Onuoha talks about André Onana’s performances at Manchester United amid links with a loan move to Trabzonspor.
OTHER RUMORS
– Several clubs are keeping tabs on the progress of on-loan Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho. (Football Insider)
– Al Shabab are keen on signing free agent midfielder Oriol Romeu. (Marca)
– Barcelona want to sign defender Eric Garcia to a new five-year contract, with hopes of getting the deal over the line before Christmas. (Diario Sport)
– Clubs in MLS are interested in free agent striker Patrick Bamford, who recently left Leeds United (Football Insider)
– Al Qadsiah have agreed a deal to sign Al Nassr attacking midfielder Otavio, who is expected to sign a two-year contract. (Fabrizio Romano)
– AC Milan midfielder Yacine Adli is closing in on a switch to Al Shabab. (Sport Italia)
– Tottenham Hotspur are willing to listen to offers for midfielder Yves Bissouma in the January transfer window. (Football Insider)
– A deal worth €20 million has been agreed by Neom SC to sign Bahia forward Lucho Rodriguez. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Talks are ongoing between Lazio and Anderlecht regarding a move for defender Jan-Carlo Simic. (Calciomercato)
– Juventus full-back Jonas Rouhi is set to join Westerlo on loan. (Fabrizio Romano)
It’s Monday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 19 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Washington Spirit, 7.30 p.m. ET
After becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot, Kansas City continues to crush the competition this season and are poised to run away with the Shield race. After beating Bay FC 2-0 this weekend, the Current are an incredible 14-games undefeated and lead the table by a 14-point gap. It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping them in their pursuit of at least one trophy in 2025.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. KC Current, 7.30 p.m. ET
The Spirit have withstood a number of changes and injuries throughout the past calendar year, but they’re once again heading into the final stretch of the season as one of the undisputed best teams in the league. They beat a solid Seattle Reign squad 2-0 in Washington D.C. thanks to a brace of goals from Trinity Rodman and are undefeated in their last seven regular season games. Next up? A fascinating test with the top-ranked Kansas City Current.
1:13
Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC – Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC, 09/08/2025
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. Gotham FC, 10 p.m. ET
On Sunday evening in San Diego, the Wave retired USWNT icon and club treasure Alex Morgan‘s jersey, then proceeded to get dismantled by the mid-table Houston Dash. San Diego has frequently looked like one of the most formidable teams in the NWSL this season. But this wasn’t one of those nights. They held more of the ball and outshot the Dash 19 to nine, but the two squads managed five each on target while Houston’s chances proved much more lethal on the night.
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET
Things are going from bad to worse for Orlando. The reigning champs are now winless in seven regular season games (three draws, four defeats). Sunday’s 5-2 collapse against the Chicago Stars saw one of 2024’s best defensive sides concede five goals in the second half alone, marking their worst loss of the season and third straight defeat. Silver lining? Mexico forward Lizbeth Ovalle (who briefly held the women’s world transfer record when she signed for the Pride this August) made her debut for the club. Fans will be hoping for Ovalle’s smooth transition to help turn this ship around.
1:10
Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride – Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride, 09/07/2025
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET
Louisville suffered their first loss in five games with a 2-1 defeat at home to Portland on Friday. Win, loss, or draw, all of Louisville’s games tend to be closely contested. Stretching back to April 27 all but three of their games (two defeats to Kansas City and a win against Orlando) have been draws or decided by the odd goal. They finished the weekend one spot inside the playoff positions and face a pivotal test against Seattle Reign next weekend, who sit just one spot above them as they seek their first-ever postseason berth.
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
Gotham have oscillated around the standings this season but earned an important win at home on Sunday, beating Angel City 3-1 despite falling behind in the second minute. With that, they finished the weekend a few places higher in the standings, now sitting sixth behind a struggling Orlando Pride. Inimitable United States midfielder Rose Lavelle scored the second of three second-half goals for the Bats, which marks her first goal of 2025 as the midfield maestro seeks another level after returning from injury earlier in the year.
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Utah Royals, 6 p.m. ET
The Dash made quite the statement Sunday evening, as they showed up to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on the night of Morgan’s jersey retirement and handed the third-place home side a 3-0 defeat. There are no easy games in NWSL, but the Dash are now six games undefeated and sitting just short of the playoff positions before a pair of surmountable tests against the bottom-ranked Chicago Stars and Utah Royals the next two weekends.
1:13
San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash – Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash, 09/08/2025
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Chicago Stars, 3 p.m. ET
After losing 2-1 at home last weekend, Portland recovered with a 2-1 win on the road, this time against Racing Louisville. They’re a bit temperamental but they’re still in fourth place, and will look to keep the momentum apace with a second road test next weekend against 13th-place (but six games undefeated) Chicago Stars.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Racing Louisville, 8 p.m. ET
It’s not time to panic. But Seattle is winless in their last five games after losing 2-0 to Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Rodman on a mission is hard to contain, but the Reign need some results as they finish the weekend in seventh place, before facing a tough-to-play Racing Louisville next weekend in Seattle.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. NC Courage, 12.30 p.m. ET
A few days after losing 20-year-old USWNT winger Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea, Angel City were hoping for a statement win against Gotham, who entered the weekend just one spot above them in the NWSL table. The night looked bright for them in New Jersey after Kennedy Fuller‘s second-minute goal, but Gotham came back with three of their own in the second half. With that, Angel City finished the weekend still sitting just short of the playoff positions and looking for that final piece to break through.
1:11
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC – Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC, 09/08/2025
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Angel City FC, 12.30 p.m. ET
After Jaedyn Shaw took the lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, the Courage were seconds away from a sorely needed victory at home when Paige Monaghan drew level for the Royals, handing North Carolina a 1-1 draw in the dying moments. North Carolina have now gone winless in six straight games (four draws, two defeats), and are still searching for their first win since letting go of former manager Sean Nahas.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET
Ludmila can’t stop scoring for the Stars. The Brazilian forward notched her sixth goal in four games in the 89th minute of a 5-2 demolition of the Orlando Pride. The reigning champs are struggling (no wins in seven games) but Chicago handed them their worst loss of the year, putting five goals past them, all in the second half. They’re still sitting at the bottom of the table, but they’re undefeated in their last six games (five draws, one big win) and gaining momentum.
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Orlando Pride, 5 p.m. ET
It’s hard to break a rut while playing the top team in the league. But Bay FC’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City marks their fourth straight defeat, and brings them to eight games without a win. They’ve been unlucky at times, and their matches have often been closer than the result would show at face value, but that’s some dire form for the Cali-squad trying to make a second-straight playoff appearance.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Houston Dash, 6 p.m. ET
The Royals put in a valiant effort against the North Carolina Courage in Cary this weekend. They fell behind briefly following a penalty, but fought back for the equalizer in stoppage time to claim a 1-1 draw. It’s hard to crawl out from the bottom of the table, but the Royals deserve credit for some solid form, despite recently losing one of their key players in Ally Sentnor. They’re undefeated in their last three games, and have only lost one game in their last six matches.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday praised the national team for their dominant victory over Afghanistan in the final of the tri-nation T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Naqvi reserved special mention for left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, commending his match-winning all-round performance, which included a hat-trick, fearless batting, and decisive contributions that turned the match in Pakistan’s favour.
“Despite posting a modest total, the team’s excellent teamwork ensured a convincing win against Afghanistan,” Naqvi said.
He also congratulated Head Coach Mike Hesson, Captain Salman Ali Agha, and the entire squad on the achievement, calling it a morale booster for future tournaments.
Taking to social media platform X, the PCB chief highlighted Pakistan’s recent consistency, winning 10 out of 14 T20 matches under Hesson’s guidance.
He urged fans and critics alike to rally behind the team ahead of the Asia Cup.
“Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series! This is a young, talented side playing fearless cricket.
Full support to the boys, coaches, and selectors for the Asia Cup—criticism and analysis can wait until after the tournament,” Naqvi wrote.
In the final, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs. Defending 142, Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled Afghanistan for just 66.
Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for five, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 13.
Mohammad Nawaz then stole the spotlight, striking twice in one over, before completing his hat-trick by removing Ibrahim Zadran.
He went on to claim a fourth wicket, dismissing Karim Janat, reducing Afghanistan to 32-6 and sealing Pakistan’s commanding victory.
Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem also claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan’s innings saw early wickets, with Sahibzada Farhan dismissed for a duck. Saim Ayub (17) and Fakhar Zaman (27) offered resistance before falling to spinners.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Nawaz added 40 runs to stabilize the innings, with Nawaz contributing 25. Pakistan set a target of 141-8.
Rashid Khan took 3/38, while Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and AM Ghazanfar claimed the remaining wickets.
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