Alex Morgan isn’t just your regular Olympic gold medalist or multiple-time FIFA World Cup holder for the USWNT. She is way more than just a legend of women’s soccer. But let’s not forget what Morgan has done as a women’s player off the field in a world dominated by men’s sports is simply remarkable for many. And you know what? She considers THAT achievement her greatest, besides scoring goals on the biggest of stages.

Hopping on the Not Gonna Lie Podcast with Kylie Kelce, the retired USWNT player—both pregnant with their fourth and second child respectively—talked about the latter’s “recent retirement from soccer and how her timeline shifted a bit when she found out she was expecting”.

Understandably, Kylie was quick to remember Morgan’s work as a lead advocate for the equal pay status in women’s sports, as she pointed out, “One of your biggest accomplishments in sports, you accomplished off the field. You are a massive advocate for equal pay…Can you tell me a little bit about that process, that journey, and what that meant to you?”

Well, let’s just say the former USWNT soccer player didn’t just call it her greatest achievement in her answer to Kylie, but also noted down the move’s positive effects. “Yeah, that’s probably…if someone asks my greatest achievement: It’s achieving equal pay on the international stage and creating that sort of domino effect or as we like to say, ‘butterfly effect’.” The 35-year-old also said how she believes that with her work for equal pay, “women in other countries and in the US with their leagues and their teams fight for equality in their sport and outside of sport.”

Now, if anyone hasn’t kept track of how Morgan pulled off this monumental feat, it all started back in April 2016, when she and some of her USWNT teammates filed a complaint to the federal Equal Opportunity Commission. That move was a desperate plea by Morgan and the likes of Megan Rapinoe to bring in gender pay parity. After years of back and forth, in February 2022, the USWNT and the national federation finally reached a $24 million settlement that would also include bonuses matching those of men.

US Soccer’s official handle announced the development on February 21, 2022, in a tweet captioned, “U.S. Soccer and @USWNT are proudly standing together in a shared commitment to advancing equality in soccer.”

“Getting to this day has not been easy. The U.S. Women’s National Team players have achieved unprecedented success while working to achieve equal pay for themselves and future athletes. Today, we recognize the legacy of the past USWNT leaders who helped to make this day possible, as well as all of the women and girls who will follow.  Together, we dedicate this moment to them. We look forward to continuing to work together to grow women’s soccer and advance opportunities for young girls and women in the United States and across the globe,” the statement further mentioned. 

Seeing what Morgan had achieved in her illustrious career, Kylie Kelce called her nothing short of a role model in every woman’s life.

Alex Morgan: The role model for women in and outside sports

What Alex has managed to achieve besides earning titles in women’s soccer deserves all the recognition she can get. Although she has already garnered enough praise around the world, Kylie considers herself grateful to call Morgan nothing but a role model: “I am so grateful to have people like you. I say it all the time, now raising daughters. It makes me aware of the people who have been role models to young women.”

Well, Jason Kelce’s wife also added how she didn’t just conquer the field, but also made waves off of it: “I just think it’s incredible that you not only went on to just absolutely run s— on the soccer field. But then also off the field make sure that your impact was not only long-lasting. But benefitted women forever now.” 

Morgan didn’t just dominate during her time on the soccer field as a player. She did way more than that. And the legacy she has left will surely stand as the pinnacle of other women in their respective sports. Don’t you agree?