In the run up to Alex Morgan’s jersey retirement by the San Diego Wave on September 7 at Snapdragon Stadium, we’re taking a moment to look back at the incredible career of number 13.
From scoring clutch goals on the world stage to becoming a global icon for women’s sports and gender equity, Morgan has inspired millions both on and off the field. Here are some fun and fascinating facts about the legendary Alex Morgan, 13 in each category, of course!
The Early Years
Alex Morgan was born on July 2, 1989, in San Dimas, California. (Britannica.com)
She was a multi-sport athlete at Diamond Bar High School (soccer, track and volleyball). (Cal Athletics)
She didn’t start playing club soccer until age 14. (BUHAVE, Cal Berkeley)
Her first club team was Cypress Elite. (BUHAVE)
She attended the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Political Economy. (TIME)
Morgan graduated one semester early with a Bachelor’s degree. (Cal Athletics)
She earned Pac-10 All-Freshman honors in her debut season at Cal. (Cal Athletics)
Morgan earned NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) first-team All-American honors and four-time All-Pac-10 selections. (Cal Athletics)
As a college sophomore, she played for the U.S. under-20 national team that won gold at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Morgan scored the game-winning goal.
She was named a finalist for prestigious awards like the Hermann Trophy and the Honda Sports Award during her junior year at Cal. (Cal Athletics)
Early in her career, her speed and running style earned her a nickname she did not especially appreciate, “Baby Horse.” (TIME)
Morgan played for the US National Team while a senior at Cal Berkeley (Cal Athletics)
Morgan met her husband Servando Carrasco in college where they both played soccer for UC Berkeley. (People)
On the Field
Morgan was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft, selected by the Western New York Flash. (Bleacher Report)
At 22, she was the youngest U.S. player ever to compete (2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup) and in 2012 was the youngest U.S. player to score 20 goals in a season (Team USA).
Morgan captained at least 23 US Women’s National Team games (USWNT), the first on January 23, 2016, when she earned her 100th cap for the USWNT (US Soccer).
In her first World Cup in 2011, she scored in both the semifinal and the final (TIME).
A two-time Women’s World Cup champion (2015 and 2019), Morgan won the Silver Boot at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring a tournament -high six goals to go with three assists. She tied the USA’s single-game scoring record with five goals against Thailand (US Soccer).
She played professionally for Lyon in France, winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2017 (TIME).
At 3-3 versus Canada during the 2012 London Olympic semifinals and seconds away from penalty kicks, Morgan scored the dramatic 123rd-minute winner (Stars and Stripes FC).
She won two Olympic medals with the USWNT: gold in 2012 and bronze in 2020 and three CONCACAF Women’s Championships with the U.S. (2014, 2018, 2022).. (TIME)
She is a two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, winning in 2012 and 2018. (US Soccer)
Morgan has scored 123 goals for the USWNT, ranking 5th all-time in team history and 9th all-time among international players worldwide. (US Soccer)
She scored 60 goals throughout her NWSL career, ranking fourth all-time in league history, 18 of them game winners, ranking second all-time in league history (San Diego Wave FC)
In 2022 in the Wave FC’s inaugural season, Morgan won the prestigious NWSL Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer (Wave FC, 2022 Wave FC)
She is the San Diego Wave’s all-time leading goal scorer with 28 goals across all competitions with the team (San Diego Wave FC).
Morgan co-authored the children’s book series The Kicks, which became a New York Times bestseller. (TIME)
She starred in the 2018 soccer-themed film “Alex & Me.” (TIME)
She shared the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA 16 with men’s soccer star Lionel Messi (TIME).
She has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated multiple times (TIME).
Morgan married fellow soccer pro Servando Carrasco in 2014. (People)
She became a mother in 2020 with the birth of her daughter Charlie and welcomed a son, Enzo, in 2025. (People)
She is a leading advocate for gender equality and equal pay in sports. (TIME)
She co-founded TOGETHXR, a media company highlighting women’s sports and culture, alongside prominent female athletes Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird. (TOGETHXR)
She has worked with charities such as Make-A-Wish Foundation and UNICEF (TIME).
Morgan follows a vegan, plant-based lifestyle, which she credits with improved energy and performance. (TIME)
She has over 10 million Instagram followers, making her one of the most-followed female athletes in the world. (TIME)
She won the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete in 2019 and the ESPY Icon Award in 2025 alongside Diana Taurasi. (ESPN)
In 2023, she launched the Alex Morgan Foundation, dedicated to helping girls and women pursue confidence and opportunity in sports and life. In its first year, the foundation awarded $188,500 in grants. (Alex Morgan Foundation)
Alex Morgan’s jersey retirement ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 7, as the San Diego Wave take on the Houston Dash at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. See details of the event.
Be there to cheer on the Wave and honor the career of one of the greatest women’s soccer players to ever take the field as her number becomes the first in Wave history to go up in the rafters. Tickets are available now at sandiegowavefc.com. The first 10,000 fans receive a pink headband.
Sept 7 | 5:30 p.m. PT | Alex Morgan Jersey Retirement Ceremony and Game vs Houston Dash | Tickets | ESPN, KUSI, Paramount+, NWSL+