Alex Morgan's emotional sendoff. Plus, is Trinity Rodman NWSL's coolest player?

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Im not crying.

Its just seasonal allergies.

Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan and Steph Yang welcome to Full Time! The emotions were clear on Alex Morgans face yesterday when the USWNT veteran took the field one last time.

The 35-year-old announced her abrupt retirement last Thursday as she and her husband Servando Carrasco are expecting their second child.

It meant this was the last time she would tie up her pink pre-wrap and play for club or country.

Advertisement The two-time World Cup winner and Olympic medalist played a symbolic 13 minutes of the San Diego Waves 4-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage.

I left everything on the field.

I did everything I ever wanted to do and more, Morgan said after the game.

I feel so at peace because I am ready to start a family.

Im ready to hang up the boots and allow the next generation to flourish and just relish in the spotlight.

Im just ready.

Before she left the field for good, Morgan nearly added one last goal to her tally with a penalty kick, but Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy saved the attempt.

Even as her final look at goal didnt go her way, Morgan could only smile .

When I took off my boots and shinguards, I just actually took a moment to let everything soak in.

I saw my teammates.

I saw North Carolina.

I saw the fans, Morgan said.

I think just understanding the gravity of the situation and the end of a very, very long chapter of my book, it was a special moment.

Seeing players untie their cleats one last time and walk off in socks gets me every time.

Have a favorite Morgan memory? Share it with us at [email protected] to feature next week.

Defenders around the world will sleep a little more soundly tonight knowing that theyll never have to keep Morgan from scoring against them again.

Who could blame them? Even considering her waning form in the NWSL after the 2023 Womens World Cup, Morgan retires as an all-time great in front of goal.

Like that trio, Morgan will be better remembered for her international exploits than what she managed at the club level.

Still, she was far from a slouch away from the USWNT.

The sudden nature of her retirement has left us all scrambling for nostalgia, but compiling this list of goals was a good trip down memory lane.

Jeff Rueter Everyone had something to say about Morgan this weekend, whether friend or longtime foe, spanning her entire career from baby horse to veteran teammate and mom friend.

Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez , former WNY Flash teammate: The game has changed because of everything she has continued to fight for and push for.

Its progressed womens soccer, and she should be incredibly proud of her accomplishments on the football pitch, but she should also be incredibly proud of what shes done and how shes inspired the next generation of believers and dreamers.

Advertisement Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman , former USWNT teammate: Me and Soph (Smith) were just talking about (how) its like shes our mom, and were like, Bye! The training wheels are coming off, and its passing the torch again.

But in my head, Alex Morgans never gonna retire, but now that its real, its honestly wild.

Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amoros , Morgans former coach at Tottenham: Shes the ultimate professional.

She always puts the team first.

I remember (her) first day having lunch with the third choice goalkeeper, a young girl there, and how she really tried to connect with everyone and help the club to be better ...

how she was always working the hardest, making sure everything was the best it could be, helping us behind the scenes, helping the team.

Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey , who faced Morgan many, many times over both of their NWSL careers: I think one of the things that I will never, ever forget is: (The Reign) played Portland when Alex was at Portland.

And obviously, we hate Portland, and we played them in 2014 at Memorial.

We were on this unbelievable run and everyone was going crazy and loving the Reign.

And Portland turns up and Alexs name gets announced at the start, and the cheer for her is as big as the whole of our team.

And for someone from Europe, thats just unheard of, just would not happen.

And I was so pissed off about it.

But I think the magnitude of who she is and what she had done for the game and continued to do, really hit me that she probably, at that time, was bigger than the game, and what a burden that must have been to carry for so long.

And not only carry it, but then be able to perform consistently at the highest level.

In a season when Marta has been cooking for club and country, its only fitting that it was her goal that clinched the Orlando Pride s 2024 playoff spot.

It was no toe poke either, but an absolute belter of a goal that almost looked like she levitated it into the far corner of the goal.

Take a look at it for yourself .

Some context: Spirit news What a roller-coaster month for the Spirit.

Croix Bethune is out for the rest of the season with a torn meniscus , which she sustained throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game.

The news comes on the heels of being named NWSLs August rookie of the month, in a season that saw her billed early and often for rookie of the year.

In all seriousness, Bethune could still be a candidate having contributed so heavily to the Spirit for the majority of the season.

Advertisement Washington also announced a new investor last week: NBA legend and recently dubbed billionare Magic Johnson .

In his first game as a Spirit investor, he sat pitchside with majority owner Michele Kang and watched the Trinity Rodman show.

Rodman scored the tying goal and assisted Leicy Santos go-ahead goal.

Her slam dunk goal celebration was a fitting tribute.

If you werent convinced Rodman is the coolest player in the league before, there should be very few doubts now.

Trinity Rodman creating magic pic.twitter.com/APxRqc98H1 National Womens Soccer League (@NWSL) September 7, 2024 Hi, my name is ...

Uncle.

Ever wonder why USWNT players call goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Uncle? Apparently, it has to do with her ability to help teammates with practical issues like fixing a flat tire or assembling a bike .

What a goal: An olimpico, when a player scores by curling a corner kick directly into the goal , is a rare sight.

This weekend, Renee Guion scored one of the legendary goals for Carolina Ascent against Fort Lauderdale in the USL Super League and its very much worth a moment of your time.

Across the ocean: New seasons are just getting started across Europe with plenty of news to fill the pages.

Ballon dOr winner and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, 26, is expected to become the highest-paid player in womens football .

Chelsea has banned postgame photos and autographs with players on the field.

And the FA is working to create a safer overall environment in womens soccer .

You can buy tickets to every NWSL game here .

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