‘Injured’ Alex Morgan Welcomes Maria Sanchez to San Diego Wave With Playful Call In Throwback Moment

San Diego Wave FC’s recent NWSL tie against Orlando Pride was rather forgetful. Orlando scored an early goal and defended their home bastion till the end, as the Wave struggled to even create good chances. Aggravating the fall, San Diego’s MVP Alex Morgan picked up an ankle injury during the losing tie against Orlando. However, in what can be a ray of hope amid the turbulence, the Wave acquired star forward Maria Sanchez from the Houston Dash for cash. Interestingly, Morgan has found time to extend a warm welcome to Sanchez amid her recovery.

Before turning pro, a young Maria Sanchez made sure that she has crossed paths with some of the greatest sporting role models. She has famously snapped a selfie with Kobe Bryant. Then what about soccer stars? Back in 2014, a teenage Sanchez chanced to click a picture with Alex Morgan. Posting the picture on Instagram, Sanchez wrote it was the best day of her life. Now, NWSL’s X handle has posted Sanchez’s old selfie with Morgan saying the two are teammates now. “2014->2024 we need an updated pic @Maria17_7,” Alex Morgan wrote on X after sharing NWSL’s tweet.

Maria Sanchez’s deal saw San Diego pay $300,000 in Intra-League Transfer Funds, and $200,000 in Allocation Money to the Houston Dash. Besides, the Wave will also exchange an international slot in 2024 and 2025 as a part of the Mexican striker’s deal. Sanchez was instrumental in Mexico’s run to the semi-final in their maiden CONCACAF W Gold Cup appearance. So she could surely galvanize the San Diego side. Meanwhile, Alex Morgan’s injury remains a huge blow for both San Diego and the USWNT.

Alex Morgan’s latest ankle injury puts her Olympic contention in jeopardy

Alex Morgan has historically unleashed clutch performances for the Californian side. Last night also, she got close to scoring a clutch equalizer against Orlando. However, a rival defender abrasively blocked Morgan’s strike and the latter immediately hurt her ankle. Subsequently, the two-time World Champion left the field, limping to the sidelines. It is unsure as to when the 34-year-old will return.

Should the injury be a serious one, Alex Morgan could risk featuring in the 2024 Olympics for the USWNT in Paris. The USWNT kick-starts their Olympic campaign by playing the winner of a Morocco-Zambia tie on July 25. Two months is ample time for a player to recover. However, should Morgan recover early, she will have to deal with a tiresome NWSL calendar. Should the recovery take time, she will miss USWNT’s crucial pre-Olympic games. So, either way, a knock for a superstar of Alex Morgan’s stature is the last thing the Wave and the USWNT would want.