On Sept. 5, 2024, Alex Morgan officially called time on one of the most iconic careers in women’s soccer. Her retirement announcement came just after being left off the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics — a roster that would go on to win gold. Her absence at the Olympics felt like the closing of a storied career, a reminder that even legends eventually step off the field.
Born in 1989 in Diamond Bar, California, Morgan’s early years were marked by her athleticism and competitiveness. She came into the national spotlight in 2011, when, at 22 years old, she played a pivotal role in leading the U.