Alex Morgan could leave Orlando Pride

After several moves to Europe, while finishing the season in the United States, Morgan will leave Orlando Pride once for all after having played five seasons under their command. During that time, she played 66 matches and contributed her usual great offensive performances with 23 goals. In addition, between tournaments, she played for teams such as Olympique Lyon and Tottenham Hotspur.

San Diego Wave FC to acquire Alex Morgan

NWSL expansion club San Diego Wave FC is expected to acquire U.S. women's national team star forward Alex Morgan in a trade with the Orlando Pride, according to The Athletic's Meg Linehan.

The move reportedly cannot be finalized until the league's trade window reopens on Dec. 17. It's currently unclear what Orlando will receive in return for the USWNT star. As a potential trade chip, San Diego does have the No. 1 pick in the NWSL college draft, which will take place on Dec. 18. The league's expansion draft takes place two days prior.

Wave FC, coached by former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney and guided in the front office by former USWNT manager Jill Ellis, will kick off their inaugural season in 2022, joining L.A.-based Angel City FC. The club began its roster construction by trading for USWNT center back Abby Dahlkemper and has since added star goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan in addition to defender Tegan McGrady and forwards Jodie Taylor, Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, and Kelsey Turnbow.

Morgan, a 32-year-old California native, would be the star attraction of the attack, though. She was traded to Orlando in 2015 after playing for the Portland Thorns. She scored five goals and added two assists in 13 appearances in 2021, though the Pride missed the playoffs. The club hired longtime UCLA coach Amanda Cromwell as its manager on Tuesday as it aims to move forward.

“Alex wants to be in San Diego, Cal. Her family is there. She came to Orlando bc Servando played for Orlando City. This makes sense. And a rebuilt Pride could be dangerous. New logo incoming with this clean slate,” one fan tweeted.

Alex Morgan to play for his 8th U.S. club on the professional level

Alex Morgan began a career that few expected at West Coast FC. With that team being her first at the professional level in 2008, the striker went on to explore new horizons at home that took her through the California Storm, Pali Blues, Western New York Flash, and Seattle Sounders before moving on to her last two sides in Portland and Orlando.

Other NWSL Moves

Orlando also sent defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris to NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for draft picks. USWNT star midfielders Julie Ertz (Chicago to Angel City) and Sam Mewis (North Carolina to Kansas City) have also been traded.

With no Olympics or World Cup this year, the star USWNT players should be fully participating in the league to chase an NWSL Championship.

Alex Morgan career USWNT 

Overall, the 32-year-old forward has 115 career goals in 190 appearances for the United States. At the 2011 World Cup, 22-year-old Alex Morgan—the youngest player on that U.S. World Cup roster—scored in the semi-final against France and scored again in the final against Japan. 

This was the spectacular introduction to one of the most prolific goal scorers in U.S. soccer history. On April 4, 2019, Morgan scored her 100th goal, and it was trademark Morgan: out-muscling a defender and crashing toward goal with incredible force and speed. Headed into her third World Cup, watch for Morgan to put on her most electrifying display yet.