Alex Morgan stands out as an athlete whose influence transcended the field.

Perhaps even more than on it.

In her retirement announcement on Thursday, Morgan leaves behind a legacy as a two-time World Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist. She ranks fifth on the U.S. women’s national team’s all-time scoring leaderboard, with just five of her 123 goals coming from penalty kicks. Morgan finished as runner-up for FIFA’s Player of the Year twice and secured third place once. Her six selections for FIFPRO’s World XI rank as the second most in history.

More importantly, Morgan departs with women’s sports in a significantly improved state compared to when she started her career. She was pivotal in the USWNT’s campaign for equal pay and played a major role in securing the NWSL’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The league’s initial anti-harassment policy emerged directly from her efforts, and she helped ignite a surge of investments in women’s sports, persuading sponsors and potential owners to appreciate their growth possibilities.

Understanding the power of her platform, Morgan utilized her celebrity for the greater good.

“Charlie came up to me the other day and said that when she grows up, she wants to be a soccer player,” Morgan reflected during her retirement announcement, mentioning her young daughter. “It filled me with immense pride, not because I want her to become a soccer player, but because a clear path exists that even a 4-year-old can recognize now.”

“We’re changing lives,” Morgan expressed, her voice wavering. “The influence we have on the next generation is irreversible, and I take great pride in my role in making that happen and pushing the game forward, leaving it in a place that fills me with happiness.”

At 35, Morgan didn’t initially aim to be a catalyst for change; her main desire was to play soccer, a sport that has captured her heart for years. However, shortly after joining the USWNT, she found herself embraced as America’s sweetheart, a role once held by Mia Hamm.

Fans adored her fierce on-field presence—many goalkeepers still recall the chill of facing her attack—and her down-to-earth charm captivated even those outside the soccer realm. At a time when only tennis players and Olympians enjoyed significant commercial success, Morgan emerged as an exception.

However, rather than creating a protective bubble, her privileged status illuminated the unfairness present. When Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Hope Solo filed a wage discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2016, Morgan joined their cause.

“In that moment, I felt much younger and less experienced than the others,” Morgan shared in an interview with YSL News Sports last year. “I realized it was an opportunity to learn, to step out of my comfort zone, even when it was challenging to do the right thing.”

“That was a crucial point for me, understanding the platform I have and the chance to speak out and have people listen.”

This complaint laid the groundwork for the equal pay lawsuit that USWNT players filed three months prior to the 2019 World Cup. Morgan stepped up as the lead plaintiff, knowing her visibility would amplify the case’s exposure and heighten pressure on U.S. Soccer.

While she and Rapinoe were the public representatives of the lawsuit, which culminated in a landmark contract in 2022, Morgan’s contributions went far beyond that. Becca Roux, executive director of the USWNT Players Association, noted Morgan’s meticulous feedback on legal documents and her active participation in discussions with attorneys and advisors.

Her activism exceeded the realm of equal pay; once Morgan found her voice, she championed numerous issues.

She was a vocal supporter of racial equality and LGBTQ+ rights, acting as a firm ally to Mana Shim, a teammate who reported an abusive coach. Following the surfacing of Shim’s story, Morgan fervently demanded that both the NWSL and U.S. Soccer implement stronger player protections. In response to the lack of media coverage for women’s sports and athletes, Morgan collaborated with Sue Bird, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel to establish Togethxr, a media and commerce company.

Additionally, she authored a series of children’s books, The Kicks, aimed at fostering teamwork and positivity among young girls. When critics accused the USWNT of being “arrogant” for confidently acknowledging their excellence during the 2019 World Cup, Morgan fiercely addressed the underlying double standard and misogyny.

“I’m immensely proud of my accomplishments, especially considering Charlie is not going to encounter the same battles that I faced,” Morgan shared with YSL News Sports last year. “I hope that by standing up now, I can make it easier for her. She can enjoy her time playing and doing what she loves without those worries.”

Morgan is undeniably one of the greatest players ever, both nationally and globally. Yet, it is her efforts to create equal opportunities for girls and young women in soccer and other sports that truly seal her legacy as a legend.