Alex Morgan Honored At Galaxy Game

DIAMOND BAR, CA —Alex Morgan, a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, was to receive a halftime honor at Friday evening's Los Angeles Galaxy-San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer game at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Alex Morgan, accepted the award for best female athlete at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, but she has never forgotten her roots, and though she often says she is from Los Angeles, Diamond Bar will always be her home.

"My parents were both AYSO coaches, and playing AYSO was a big part of my growing up," she said in an interview with ussoccer.com's "back home" series about her life in Diamond Bar.

In an intimate look into Morgan's life as a child, and high school student, she even tried on her purple and gold "Brahma's" letterman's jacket, recalling the excitement of earning her high school letter. Morgan graduated from Diamond Bar High School in 2007.

A self-described "tomboy," Morgan toured Paul C. Grow Park and recalled the oranges at half time, the desire for the ball at all times, and the story that has become an inspiration for many young soccer players across the nation and the world.

Morgan suffered a torn ACL as a senior in high school, which is when she realized that it was her dream to play soccer for her career. "Though it was unfortunate I tore my ACL, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, as it made me realize what I wanted," she said in the interview.

The Diamond Bar High School graduate scored the tie-breaking goal in the United States' 2-1 victory over England in a 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal July 2, then drew criticism for her celebration when she mimicked drinking from a cup of tea.

Morgan had five goals and three assists, the most combined goals and assists a player had had in a World Cup game, when the U.S. opened the tournament with a record-setting 13-0 victory over Thailand June 11, setting FIFA Women's World Cup records for goals in a match and widest margin.

Morgan's six goals matched teammate Megan Rapinoe and England's Ellen White for the most in the tournament.

Morgan was among 12 members of the 2019 Women's World Cup champion U.S. squad who were also members of the 2015 championship team.

Morgan's husband Servando Carrasco is a midfielder with the Galaxy.

The two met at the University of California.

City News Service contributed to this report.