Alex Morgan
© Getty Images

Now a first-choice striker alongside Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan has fulfilled the promise shown at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™, where she was USA’s secret weapon. Her 2012 Olympic highlights included two goals in the 4-2 group-stage match win over France and her decisive goal in the 123rd minute of the thrilling 4-3 semi-final victory over Canada. An U-20 world champion in 2008, Morgan made five assists at the London Games and received the American Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Her career
Alex Morgan has enjoyed a rapid rise to fame in the women’s game, her quick-feet, keen eye for goal, and all around attacking prowess drawing comparisons to female football icon and former USA international Mia Hamm. 

The California native showed great promise in the game from an early age, and she first made her mark in a Stars and Stripes jersey as a fresh-faced teenager with a four-goal performance at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile in 2008, which she helped the Americans win. There, she scored what was voted the best goal of the tournament. She also finished third-top scorer in the competition, and was voted second top-player, receiving the coveted adidas Silver Ball.

From there on out, it was a fast ride up the ranks for Morgan. After making her first senior appearance in 2010, she was included, at just 22 years of age, as the youngest member of the USA team that finished second at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup™, where she made a significant impact.

Having already helped her homeland to glory at the prestigious Algarve Cup, where Morgan, nicknamed ‘Baby Horse’ by her team-mates, finished as top scorer with three goals, the pacy striker capped a magnificent season by winning the national club title with Western New York Flash. And that was just the beginning of her explosive 2011.

Morgan’s abilities were on display for all to see at the world finals in Germany, where she stood out among a talented USA side, causing havoc with her pace and ability to keep close control of the ball while taking on defenders. She appeared in five of USA’s games, as the perfect foil to the power and courage of strike partner Abby Wambach, catching the eye of fans and pundits alike.