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On Sunday, September 8, Alex Morgan, the two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, bid farewell to football after making her final appearance for the San Diego Wave against the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). At the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Alex Morgan led the San Diego Wave players onto the field before being substituted in the 13-minute of the match in recognition of the No. 13 jersey she wore throughout her illustrious football career.
Notably, just three days ago, Alex Morgan had announced her decision to retire from professional football while revealing that she is pregnant with her second child. At the start of her farewell match in front of 26,518 fans, she posed for photos with family and friends at the Snapdragon Stadium before lining up alongside her San Diego Wave teammates to take on the North Carolina Courage.
"Thank You Alex" posters were spotted in abundance during farewell match of Alex Morgan at Snapdragon Stadium
The fans were firmly involved in playing tribute to Alex Morgan, holding up “Thank You Alex” posters, alongside wearing t-shirts boasting slogan “SAND13GOAT,” which were also donned by her family members and friends. Although her farewell didn’t end on a winning note, missing a penalty in the 10th minute as the Courage defeated the Wave 4-1, to consolidate their fifth place in the NWSL standings.
Moments before Alex Morgan was substituted in the 13th minute of the NWSL clash, her teammate Kennedy Wesley had scored an equaliser for the San Diego Wave, making the scoreline 1-1 against the North Carolina Courage. For the visiting team, Haley Hopkins, Felicitas Rauch, Bianca St-Georges, and Meredith Speck found their names on the scoresheet.
After the end of her farewell match, Alex Morgan thanked her teammates, family, friends, and fans for staying behind her throughout her football journey. She was quoted as saying, as per Soccer America, “What a ride it’s been. I want to thank my teammates. You have constantly challenged me every day and made me better,” Morgan said after the match. “I want to thank my family who have relentlessly supported me, sacrificed so much for me. I love you guys.”
