July 2019: It was the 31st minute. Alex Morgan has just scored a goal against England during their World Cup semi-final clash leading USWNT 2-1. Amid the celebrations, the No. 13 lifted her hand and gestured, sipping tea out of an imaginary cup—an act that reverberated across the globe. “Disrespectful”, “distasteful”, “insensitive” were some of the words used to describe the incident. But Megan Rapinoe was amused.

‘The next level trolling with the tea [by Alex Morgan] is so funny,” she said while calling the English “uptight”. But that was just one example of the duo’s camaraderie that extended way beyond the field. Morgan and Rapinoe were among the five players who filed a complaint to the federal Equal Opportunity Commission in April 2016, to demand equal pay as the men’s team. They celebrated together after the team reached a historic agreement and $24 million pay discrimination settlement six years later.

Then they cried together when Rapinoe announced her retirement in July 2023. “P, you clearly mean so much to me and all of us. Like you said, this team is in good hands, but it is in good hands in large part because of you and what you’ve done for this team.”After Morgan announced she was hanging up her boots earlier this month, the 39-year-old was heartbroken, too. Perhaps more so because controversies marred Morgan’s career twilight, and the veteran didn’t exactly get the farewell she deserved, according to many. But more on that later, as Rapinoe couldn’t hold back tears talking about her former teammate…

On the latest episode of A Touch More podcast, Rapinoe and her fiancee/WNBA icon Sue Bird didn’t fall short in underlining Morgan’s accomplishments. Bird began the conversation by saying, “I hope that US soccer is able to do something special [For Morgan]…”, to which Rapinoe cut her off and quickly replied, “Well, they better,” while wiping her tears. The legendary forward urged that a player like Morgan deserves a special send-off.

“It’s just so cool and she deserves it all. I know maybe it wasn’t exactly how she wanted just with the way that everything played out but when you really say you’re done and retired which she has, she’s now going to get to feel all the flowers and all the love,” concluded Rapinoe, who has lifted two World Cups and one Olympics gold with Morgan, along with 377 caps in 13 years.

Rapinoe’s not totally wrong. As the USWNT was gearing up for a fifth-Olympic gold, the world stood stunned after newly inducted coach Emma Hayes left the Morgan out, leaving her international career in doubt. We’re talking about someone who’s made three Olympic appearances, has the third highest Olympic goals for USWNT (6) behind Carli Lloyd (10) and Abby Wambach (9) and led the USWNT to a gold at the 2012 London Olympics highlighted by a 123rd minute net in a semi-final clash against Canada.

“Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” wrote Morgan about the snub. But Hayes’ reasoning was simple. She wanted younger players to get a chance. But this also meant Morgan wasn’t going to get an international send-off like many thought she deserves. Barely a month after the Lindsey Horan-led team clinched their fifth Olympic gold, Morgan took to social media to announce her retirement (and second pregnancy), revealing she knew this was going to be her last season at the beginning of the year.

This was the end of an era not just for the football community, but for Rapinoe as well.

Morgan’s retirement is the final nail in the coffin

“I am from Southern California, I have never played in snow in my life,” said a fresh-faced 21-year-old Alex Morgan in 2010 after her USWNT debut in Utah. Nicknamed ‘Baby Horse’ due to her exceptionally long strides by her teammates, that day marked the onset of an iconic career, with accolades no one could match. The 34-year-old build a legacy over 15 years, scoring 123 goals in her international career, ranking fifth on the all-time list.

Hence, it’s not just the thought of Alex Morgan no longer kicking the ball that makes Megan Rapinoe emotional. Watching San Diego Wave’s No. 13 remove her boots for good made the 39-year-old realize that the good old days of her generation are approaching to end. “I’m feeling emotional because it’s like the end of your era. My generation is putting it down to rest and we had so many good times.”

Notably, after Morgan, next on the list is Kelley O’Hara, who will also retire at the end of this year. Luckily, the likes of Lindsey Horan and Becky Sauerbrunn are still going, and Morgan believes they should carry forward “as long as they possibly can.” While Horan is still 30 and can continue for long, the same cannot be said for Sauerbrunn.

The Portland Thorns FC, who wasn’t called by Emma Hayes for the Paris Olympics, earlier announced that her journey with the USWNT had come to an end. When asked if she intended to return to the national team, she responded, “I think that chapter of my career is over. I have been working through all of those emotions as well.”

Regardless, it surely is the end of an era. Let’s hope Megan Rapinoe’s wish to see Alex Morgan getting a special honor from the US Soccer gets fulfilled.