Who Is Alex Morgan? New Details On The U.S. Women's Soccer Forward & Co-Captain Competing In The World Cup
She's an author and athlete.
getty The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is in full swing, and has been taking place since June 11th. So far, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has shown just how talented they are, defeating Thailand 13-0, and Chile 3-0. Their next game will take place on June 20th against Sweden.
It’s safe to say that the U.S. team is the most successful team in international women’s soccer. They’ve won three Women’s World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals, and their recent lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for unequal pay is just another reason winning this tournament is so important.
Part of being a soccer fan means getting to know the individual players we see on the field. It adds another layer to watching the games. So, who is Alex Morgan and what do we know about his personal life? Here are 6 things to know about the forward and co-captain on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team.
1. She didn't start playing soccer until her teens.
Growing up in California, Morgan played multiple sports and began playing soccer with AYSO when she was young. Her dad was one of her first coaches. When she was 14, she joined Cypress Elite, winning the Coast Soccer League. In high school, she was named All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and played for the Olympic Development Program on regional and state teams.
According to Morgan, this helped her develop her skills as a soccer player. “Programs like ODP helped me especially because I did come into the club scene late, and it was important for me to play as much as possible, play with the best players and learn from the best coaches. That, for me, was crucial to my development,” she said.
2. Her career began in college.
She attended UC Berkeley and majored in Political Economy. But she also played on the California Golden Bears from 2007 to 2010. During her collegiate career, she also committed to U.S. national teams but still helped the Golden Bears reach the NCAA Tournament four years in a row. She ended her college career by ranking third all-time in goals scored on the team.
3. She then began her professional career.
In 2011, Morgan was drafted to the Western New York Flash, becoming the first Golden Bears women’s soccer player to be drafted in the first round of WPS. She then joined the Seattle Sounders Women for the 2012 season, and from 2013 to 2015, played for the Portland Thorns FC.
Following the Thorns trading her, Morgan began playing for Orlando Pride and joined the 2017 active roster, where she still plays. She also signed with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, a French team, but decided not to return for the 2018 season.
Morgan also played in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2012 London Olympics, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
4. She’s a published author.
In 2012, she signed a deal with Simon & Schuster to write a four-book series for middle schoolers. The series, The Kicks, was about “four young girls and features themes of friendship, leadership, and soccer.” She’s written two of the four books, one of which made the New York Times Best Seller list! And in 2015, a series of the same name aired on Amazon Prime.
5. She’s married to another athlete.
Morgan is married to LA Galaxy midfielder, Servando Carrasco. The two tied the knot in December 2014 after meeting at UC Berkeley and dating for seven years.
6. It’s her third World Cup!
Morgan played in the 2011 World Cup, and was the youngest player on that roster at 22 years old. She scored in the semi-final against France and the final against Japan. During the 2015 World Cup, she didn’t play her best game due to an injury but before the 2019 World Cup began, she was extremely confident and hopeful. And so far, she’s scored five goals for Team USA!
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.