Alex Morgan on how much it means to get her jersey retired by San Diego Wave FC 🙌 | ESPN FC

Welcome out Pitchside to Snapdragon Stadium. I'm Kelsey Riggs-Cuff alongside two icons, two NWSL champs, two women who won two World Cups together, gold medals, and so much more. Allie Krieger and the woman of the day of the night, a co-part owner here of San Diego and the team's all-time leading goal scorer, Alex Morgan. Hello, congratulations. And Alex, we've been standing here taking in the crowd. I saw you walking in signing autographs and talking to so many people. You've been to the stadium so many times, but now every time after this, your jersey will be forever on the walls here. What does that mean to you? It's such a surreal moment. You know, when I came here three and a half years ago, I really wanted to help build this club from zero to one. I wanted to do things that were never done before. We made the playoffs in year one, we got the shield in year two, we got the challenge cup in year three, and now year four, I'm a part owner. And it's so special. I get to be here now as a fan, I get to watch my team, and I get to see my number up there every game and one day share with my daughter and son exactly why that happened. Now it all comes back full circle here in San Diego, your hometown, a place where everything started. Not many players get, you know, the honor of getting their jersey retired. And you could have ended your career elsewhere, but you finished here, and that was so special. So what does this moment mean to you to celebrate with all the fans, family and fans? It was always San Diego. Honestly, this is home. This is home for my kids. It's just such a special city and community. And what we have been able to build in only three and a half years here in San Diego, between this club, between my foundation, with my family, it is so incredibly special. And I'm so proud to be a San Diegan. Alex, you mentioned that one day you'll get to share this with your kids when they're older. You have so many accolades, so many things that you've accomplished, but I know there's no title greater that you hold more precious than being a mom. And right now they're here, but they can't understand the magnitude of this moment. When they're older and they come and they see your jersey, what do you hope that they take away from what that means and what you've been able to do, not just for the sport, but for women? I just really hope that it helps them grow a passion for something that they want to do and that they want to be. Just taking it back to my parents, they told me I could be and do anything I set my mind to, anything I dreamt of. And I did. And they were alongside me every step of the way around the world. Allie knows my dad went to China, Japan, to wherever it was, South America. And so to have this moment now with my kids and to be able to show them what hard work can lead to, there's there's nothing better than that. And when fans come into the stadium and they look up and they see your jersey honored in this way, what do you hope that they take away from your legacy that you've built? I hope they're proud of how I represented this city. I hope they're proud of what I did both on and off the field. And I'm going to be here. I'm you know, I'm part owner. I'm a forever fan of this team. This is my home. I'll be here every home game cheering on the team. So I just want to see more success with this team and this organization. And I'm here as a part of it. Alex, I know you've wanted since you were seven, dreamed of being a professional soccer player and you got to see so many dreams that you had come to fruition. And now to be standing here in this moment and living this and having your jersey retired, just the first player in San Diego history, just the sixth in the league. What does that mean to you to just be one of so few in this category that has had that? I didn't even know this was possible. You know, I had a dream of playing soccer, but there was no pathway for that to exist, let alone having your your jersey number retired. So, you know, my parents, they did everything to make that happen for me. But now being in this moment, there is a pathway to this. There is a pathway to incredible success, even more than we ever experienced or could have dreamt of as a kid. Now, these kids see it and they can be it. They can dream it and achieve it. And I think that that's just what I want to leave people. And that's what's really special for me, for my kids to see this too. And the number 13 forever retired. You had a quick question, though. Yeah. If Charlie ever gets to this level, she plays for San Diego Wave. Do you think we could take your number out of retirement? Charlie can choose 13 to wear and represent 100 percent. Don't don't know she would. She wants to pay for her own way. There you go. Absolutely. Of course she does, because her mom has set the standard of how to do that. Enjoy today. We appreciate the time here before kickoff.