USWNT legend Alex Morgan starts for San Diego Wave in final game of career ahead of retirement

Two-time Women's World Cup winner Alex Morgan starts for the NWSL's San Diego Wave on Sunday when she will play the final match of her storied 14-year career after announcing her retirement just three days earlier.

Morgan shared the news of her retirement in a video posted to social media on Thursday, saying she made the decision at the start of the year. The 35-year-old also used the opportunity to announce her pregnancy with her second child, the timing of which means she will officially hang up her boots on Sunday.

The U.S. women's national team star said in a pre-match press conference on Friday that she will make a cameo in her final Game rather than play the majority of Sunday's match against the North Carolina Courage.

"I will be playing limited minutes this weekend," Morgan said, "but nonetheless, it's always an honor to be able to lace up my boots and step out on that field for one last time."

This will be the 150th and final regular season game in the NWSL for Morgan, who previously played for the Portland Thorns and Orlando Pride before joining the Wave ahead of their inaugural season in 2022. She enters the match with 60 regular season goals, fourth all-time in the league, and won the NWSL Championship in the league's inaugural season in 2013 with the Thorns.

The Wave enter Sunday's match in 12th place in the 14 team league, a reversal of fortunes after winning the NWSL Shield last season. They remain in the hunt for a playoff berth with eight regular season games to go, seven points behind the eighth-place Chicago Red Stars, but face a big task against the fifth-place Courage.

How to watch

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 8 |Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Place: Snapdragon Stadium -- San Diego, Calif.
• TV: CBS Sports Network | Stream: Paramount+