By Paige Albright
Boston University News Service
Alex Morgan cemented herself as an icon for US women’s soccer. She became a household name during a time when women’s sports were overlooked. Morgan announced her retirement last week on social media. She played her final game of professional soccer last night, ending her star-studded career with a standing ovation.
Morgan and her iconic pink headband were the face of US women’s soccer for the last decade, winning two world cups and an Olympic gold medal. She and her teammates, such as Megan Rapione, championed the push for equal pay in women’s sports; helping pave the way for the huge growth in women’s sports seen today.
Morgan missed her first call-up to the US national team this past summer during the Paris Olympics. In her abrupt retirement announcement, Morgan shared that she and her husband are expecting their second child. Morgan’s return to sport after having her first daughter, Charlie, broke barriers for women in sports. In the past, pregnancy usually meant the end of their careers.
Morgan’s uncanny ability to score and her infamous goal celebrations made her one of the most popular female athletes in the world. Morgan led numerous teams to championships from the USA national team to various club teams in America and abroad. Morgan helped put Team USA on the international map as the country had struggled to compete with past soccer powerhouses.
While Morgan left the pitch tonight on a loss with her former club team the San Diego Wave, her career remains untouched as one of the biggest names in American Soccer. As one of the few players, male or female, to have multiple World Cup titles and club titles to their name, it’s safe to say Morgan’s legacy (and infamous pink headband) will continue to live on and inspire generations of players.
