Alex Morgan retires knowing women's soccer is in 'an amazing place'

Alex Morgan walked into her retirement news conference Friday thinking she'd be the only player there from the San Diego Wave.

She was surprised by an ovation from her teammates, who packed the first two rows.

"This is your day off!" Morgan said, clearly touched by the moment.

After becoming one of the more recognizable athletes in the United States during her brilliant 15-year professional career, Morgan can expect a lot more of the same Sunday, when she'll play her final match for the Wave, against the North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium.

Morgan is retiring because she's pregnant with her second child. She's confident she's done all she can both on and off the pitch for the women's game, which she said is in "an amazing place."

"I will be playing limited minutes this weekend, but nonetheless, it's always an honor to be able to lace up my boots and step out on that field for one last time," Morgan said.

Morgan, 35, said she didn't expect to retire midseason but found out a few weeks ago she was pregnant. She and husband Servando Carrasco, a former MLS player, have a 4-year-old daughter, Charlie.

"As unexpected as it was, I was so happy because this was what our family wanted, a couple of months sooner than expected, but, nonetheless we were very overjoyed," said Morgan, who had originally planned to retire at the end of the season.

After speaking with her husband and doctor about how long she could safely play, she decided Sunday would be her final match with the National Women's Soccer League club. She informed her teammates Wednesday.

"I just felt like this was the right time," she said. "I felt like the last couple of weeks I've sort of lost a step, you know, in playing and I felt like for my body and my