Morgan 'has done her part' for women's football

USA fable Alex Morgan says she has "done her part" successful "helping to summation respect for nan women's game" pursuing her status from football.

Morgan, 35, who won 2 Women's World Cups and an Olympic golden medal, confirmed her status successful a video posted to societal media connected Thursday, wherever she besides announced she is pregnant pinch her 2nd child.

She will play her last master lucifer connected Sunday erstwhile her nine broadside San Diego Wave return connected North Carolina Courage successful nan league.

"I dream my bequest is that I pushed nan crippled forward, I helped summation respect for nan women's crippled and summation nan worth and finance successful nan women's game," said Morgan.

"I wanted to thief players for illustration myself beryllium respected, person amended resources, beryllium amended protected, let female players to conscionable play shot and not continually conflict for things we shouldn't beryllium fighting for."

In 2022, Morgan was portion of nan USA broadside which secured a landmark adjacent salary woody aft each members of nan squad revenge a lawsuit.

When reflecting connected that, she says it created a "butterfly effect" for nan maturation of women's shot globally.

"Looking backmost to nan commencement of my career, it overlapped pinch legends and truthful galore players that had specified a immense effect connected women's shot globally and domestically. That’s what I wanted," said Morgan.

"They talked astir passing nan torch. I helped transportation that for a agelong time. I felt for illustration I had a work to conflict for adjacent pay, for equity, to do different things successful nan athletics to uplift and protect players.

"I consciousness for illustration I've done my part. Fighting for adjacent salary successful nan squad was specified a pivotal infinitesimal successful nan history of women's soccer. It created a butterfly effect that is irreversible and I only spot continuing to grow.

"That's why I'm truthful happy to opportunity I'm retiring because we're much than good - we are great."

Morgan collapsed into nan USA squad erstwhile she was 19 and went connected to execute nan game's biggest prizes, breaking records and winning respective individual accolades.

She was near retired of nan USA squad for nan Olympic Games this summertime by caller head Emma Hayes but does not regret her determination to play different year.

"As overmuch arsenic I wanted to beryllium [at nan Olympics] this year, I felt we were successful bully hands," said Morgan.

"The early of women's shot is successful specified an astonishing spot truthful I consciousness I person accomplished everything I came present to do.

"I'm truthful proud of nan USA squad going to France and winning gold. That to maine is simply a proud infinitesimal because I spot truthful galore of these younger players successful nan squad who person conscionable been capable to attraction connected themselves and person nan pathway and nan resources to get better. That's what I fought for."

Her four-year-old girl Charlie has grown up astir immoderate of nan USA's astir successful female athletes.

And Morgan says nan power that will person connected Charlie will beryllium immense - overmuch for illustration nan domiciled her sisters played successful her ain profession development.

"I started playing shot erstwhile I was 5 aliases so. Before that I went to my sister's shot games. I utilized to clasp nan shot connected nan sidelines," said Morgan.

"It was a large logic [as to] why I wanted to turn my family because I wanted Charlie to person siblings. My sisters were an inspiration to me.

"When I look back, I spot personification who was truthful competitory and fearless [when I started]. I spot that successful my girl now and I'm truthful proud to person fostered that successful nan measurement my mum did for america increasing up.

"I'm truthful happy to spot Charlie turn up astir a group of women who person recovered intent and are truthful consenting to stock that pinch her. Not a batch of girls get that astatine that age."

Morgan said she does not intend to spell into coaching but hopes to make nan astir of her last lucifer this Sunday, albeit pinch constricted minutes.

"It's not conscionable a ceremony of me. It's a ceremony of everyone who has done thing to thief maine beryllium here," she added.

"My family, truthful galore friends who reached out, truthful galore group who wanted to watch my games – I conscionable want to return successful each moment."