Emotional Alex Morgan exits final game early in San Diego - ESPN

Forward Alex Morgan played 15 minutes and had a penalty kick saved on Sunday for San Diego Wave FC in her final match as a professional.

Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist, announced on Thursday that the Wave's NWSL home game at Snapdragon Stadium against the North Carolina Courage would be the last of her nearly 14-year career at the international and professional level.

On Sunday, Morgan was denied a dream exit by North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, one of Morgan's teammates with the United States national team in recent years. Morgan stepped up to the spot after the Wave earned a penalty in the 10th minute, but her left-footed effort was saved by Murphy.

San Diego scored an equalizer three minutes later, and Morgan began leaving the field with just over 13 minutes on the clock, a nod to the No. 13 that she famously wore for club and country over the past decade-plus.

She removed her cleats at midfield and tearfully waved and blew kisses to the crowd — who was chanting her name — as players from both teams surrounded her and applauded. She was replaced by forward Amirah Ali.

In a first for a women's sporting event, the game was shown across multiple outlets, including the ESPN networks, simultaneously in the U.S. The Sunday evening game was initially slated to air on NWSL+ and Paramount+.

Morgan said on Friday that she would play «limited» minutes on Sunday and announced on Thursday, in addition to her retirement, that she is pregnant with her second child.

The USWNT veteran was on the teams that won the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and an Olympic gold medal in 2012, as well as a bronze medal in 2021. She scored 123 goals for the USWNT, fifth most in program history and is one of only