Former U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) star Alex Morgan, who has retired from professional football this year, is casting an eye to a new chapter of her career. She may no longer have been on the pitch, but she is as determined as ever to push women’s sport forwards. Now out on the sidelines after she is expecting her second child, Morgan is investing and encouraging women’s sports leagues such as the WNBA and the NWSL.
But Morgan said her decision to step away from the sport wasn’t retirement but rather a ‘transition,’ as she described it. “I don’t want to be retired,” said Morgan, in an interview with Fast Company. “I feel like I’m in a new chapter.” This shift from player to investor and advocate occurs as women’s sports move into what looks to be the forefront of the world in 2020.
But she also sees a growing value of women’s sports leagues, including the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) and WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), as representing an opportunity for investment. But Morgan said the valuations of these teams and leagues are increasing. “I’m most excited about that, even though I’m not on the field anymore, I’m able to still lift and support the women’s sports leagues and teams around the world.”
Through her media company, Togetxer, Morgan is already involved in helping to grow women’s sports. Amplifying the voices of women in sports is their focus—giving platforms for women in sports to tell their stories through podcast and other content formats. Furthermore, Morgan is also considering roles in mentorship, advising and investing to continue to serve the growth of the sector.
She’s also passionate about not just women’s sports but also her former teams. For Morgan, she has been an active supporter of the NWSL, where she has been playing since 2013, a league from which she wants to make a difference from and is looking for opportunities to do just that. She is committed by media, investment and direct support to lift women’s sports to new heights.
Morgan enters this next chapter in her life and career at a time when there aren’t many more qualified to help women’s sports grow than she. Having such an extensive experience and leadership, she will remain a major force of industry in years to come.