How Alex Morgan Juggles Motherhood, Soccer Stardom, and More | Just Women's Sports Podcast

The podcast begins with host Kelly O'Hara welcoming her guest, Alex Morgan, to the Just Women Sports podcast. They discuss the new challenges and joys of motherhood that Alex is experiencing, including the difficulties of adjusting to a baby's feeding and sleeping schedule. Alex shares anecdotes about her daughter Charlie and how she manages to capture only the happy moments on camera, reflecting the typical new mother's desire to share the best parts of parenthood.

In this paragraph, Alex Morgan delves into the complexities of balancing her professional soccer career with her new role as a mother. She discusses the physical and emotional demands of caring for her baby while also dealing with a knee injury. Alex shares her initial thoughts on finding out about her pregnancy and how she navigated her professional commitments during this period, including her decision to continue playing soccer until it became too risky.

Alex Morgan shares her journey through pregnancy while maintaining her soccer career. She talks about her training regimen during pregnancy, listening to her doctor's advice on fitness and heart rate, and doing her own research on pregnant athletes. Alex expresses her determination to stay active for the benefits of her health and the baby's, and also discusses her concerns about the potential impact of childbirth on her soccer comeback.

The paragraph focuses on Alex's postpartum recovery and her reflections on motherhood. She discusses her physical recovery, including following a postpartum program and her cautious approach to getting back into shape. Alex also shares her surprises and joys of being a new mother, such as the ease of breastfeeding and the challenges of understanding baby cues. Additionally, she talks about the logistics of managing her training with childcare and the uncertainty of her family's location for the rest of the year.

Alex Morgan recounts her travel challenges during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including her last-minute travel on a private flight with A-Rod and J-Lo from LA to Florida. The conversation shifts to her early soccer career, discussing how she started playing soccer recreationally at a young age and transitioned to club soccer in her teenage years. Alex reflects on the importance of playing multiple sports and not specializing too early, which she believes contributed to her success.

In this section, Alex talks about her transition from high school soccer to playing at the collegiate level for Cal. She describes her recruitment process and the factors that led her to choose Cal over other prestigious schools. Alex also discusses her early experiences with the U17 national team and how she felt she progressed quickly in her soccer career, culminating in her first call-up to the senior national team during her junior year of college.

Alex Morgan shares her initial experiences with the national team, including her feelings of being out of place and her lack of knowledge about some of the team's history and players. She talks about her first cap in a snowstorm, which she describes as a humbling experience, and how she learned from it. The conversation also touches on the importance of caps in soccer and Alex's 100th cap celebration in San Diego.

The paragraph discusses the rise in popularity of women's soccer, particularly after the 2011 World Cup. Alex and Kelly reminisce about the impact of Abby Wambach's header goal against Brazil and how it changed the media landscape for women's soccer in the United States. They talk about the emotional aftermath of losing in the final to Japan and the public's warm reception upon their return, despite the loss.

Alex Morgan reflects on her achievements, including winning the 2012 Olympics and the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. She discusses the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement in maintaining her high performance level over the years. The conversation also touches on the team's preparation for the 2019 World Cup, their confidence, and the off-field distractions they faced during the tournament.

This section covers the celebrations following the 2019 World Cup win and the challenges that came with it, such as the public scrutiny over on-field celebrations and political comments. Alex talks about the team's focus during the tournament and how they managed to maintain their composure amidst the controversies. She also shares her personal post-World Cup celebrations and the importance of enjoying the moment.

Alex discusses the fight for equal pay in women's soccer, emphasizing the players' involvement and the time and effort they have invested in the legal battle. She highlights the importance of sharing their truth and the impact their fight has had on other sports and women around the world. Alex also talks about her personal challenges as a public figure, including the importance of staying true to herself and not altering her beliefs to please others.

In the final paragraph, Kelly and Alex reflect on their friendship and Alex's future goals. Alex expresses her desire to participate in the Tokyo Olympics and to continue playing soccer while raising her daughter. She also talks about her motivation, driven by the finite nature of her career and the desire to maximize her time at the peak of her abilities.