Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Alex Morgan's Emotional Response After Former Club’s Big Announcement
© Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

U.S. soccer legend Alex Morgan called it a career on Sept. 8, 2024, stepping onto the pitch for the final time. She did it in a San Diego Wave FC kit, starting the match and then being subbed out in the 15th minute after receiving a massive standing ovation from the home crowd.

While the Wave lost that game 4-1 to the North Carolina Courage, the night will always be remembered for Morgan. The 5-foot-7 striker played all three seasons in the club’s existence, joining in a trade from the Orlando Pride ahead of its inaugural season.

She started 44 matches and appeared in 48 during her time with the Wave, scoring 22 goals and adding eight assists. Morgan also helped San Diego win the 2023 NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup.

After all the 35-year-old has given to the club, Tuesday brought a big announcement to honor her contributions forever. On Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, the Wave will retire Morgan's No. 13 jersey at Snapdragon Stadium.

"there will never be another 13," the Wave posted on social media.

Morgan reposted the Wave's post, sharing a message to the city of San Diego.

"See you there San Diego ," she said.

Morgan isn’t just held in high regard by the club—she’s also considered one of the greatest women’s soccer players of all time. She began her career with the Western New York Flash before moving on to the Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride and Tottenham Hotspur.

At the international level, she made 224 appearances, scored 123 goals and added 53 assists. Morgan also helped the U.S. win two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015 and 2019).

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Man United edge closer to another summer deal after major transfer fee reduction for ‘desperate’ player
Soccer

Man United edge closer to another summer deal after major transfer fee reduction for ‘desperate’ player

Manchester United have had to swallow their pride and reduce their asking price for Antony amid concerns he will still be at the club in the dying embers of the transfer window. Despite being placed in INEOS’ exiled quintet at the start of the summer, Antony, like Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, has failed to agree a move elsewhere. Now, with just three days to go until United kick off their 2025/2026 campaign, the Red Devils hierarchy have been left pulling their hair out at how on earth they can get rid of the wantaway players. Why Antony is still at United There’s a strong chance Garnacho’s exit materialises in the coming weeks after Chelsea registered their interest in signing the Argentine international – a transfer that he has already green-lit behind the scenes. Antony has also been expected to return to Real Betis since his initial loan spell came to an end, with United making it very clear from the start of the summer that he is free to leave for the right price. Yet, it’s such demands that have led to Betis opting against a formal proposal; they cannot meet United’s financial requests via an upfront fee and had instead set their sights on another loan, this time for the duration of the season. United slash Antony’s price tag Of course, United are uninterested in facilitating another temporary outgoing, having already done so for Marcus Rashford when he made the switch to Barcelona. GiveMeSport claims that a fee as low as £30 million would be enough for the Old Trafford outfit to part ways with Antony before the window closes, meaning they stand to take a £52 million hit on the ludicrous £82 million they forked out for him back in 2022. The 25-year-old is said to be ‘desperate’ to seal a return to the Villamarin Stadium, where he oversaw his most prolific form since leaving Ajax.

Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
NFL

Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update

Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.

Rory McIlroy Reveals Why He Didn’t Go To St Jude Championship
Golf

Rory McIlroy Reveals Why He Didn’t Go To St Jude Championship

Last week, the playoffs for the FedEx Cup officially began. The top seventy players of the season have been selected, and they are now off to the races. The first of four events was the St Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. Although it was supposed to have seventy players, there was a notable absence. Rory McIlroy, despite occupying the no. 2 spot in the FedEx rankings, was nowhere to be seen. The decision has led to confusion and criticism. The main question was why he had done it, and now McIlroy has answered that question. Recap On McIlroy And St Jude Fallout Rory McIlroy’s decision has brought him some criticism. Some were calling it disrespectful to the sport and players. People like Johnson Wagner were calling for rule changes to keep such an absence from happening again. He proposed mandatory attendance with wiggle room for emergencies, given that the FedEx Cup has an elimination aspect to it. McIlroy was able to skip the event without any kind of repercussion. Going into the playoffs, he was second in the FedEx Cup rankings, just behind Scottie Scheffler. He was so far ahead of most other players that some people did the math and concluded that he could skip St Jude and the BMW Championship and still be in the race. After the St Jude Championship, McIlroy’s FedEx Cup standing did not change. He remained in second but he will be attending the BMW Championship. McIlroy’s Explanation Ahead of the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy attended a press conference to answer some questions before the tournament. One of the questions was on his absence from the St Jude Championship, and McIlroy answered that he just needed an extra week off ahead of a very busy schedule. “I just think that extra week off will do me good with the events coming up. Some big events that are important to me—the Irish Open, Wentworth (BMW PGA Championship), obviously the Ryder Cup. I want to try to win my seventh Race to Dubai over in Europe as well. There’s some things that are still important to me that I want to go play in. That was a big part of the reason why I wanted to take that extra week off last week.” During this same conference, McIlroy addressed the need for a rule change after his absence. Mostly questioning if it was even necessary, but ultimately saying that he would support it if need be. McIlroy also pointed out that any rules change would need to keep a lot of people happy, including the media rights partner and the sponsors. Those two like to see big names on the field. Up Next: The BMW Championship Rory McIlroy may have skipped the St Jude Championship, but he’s not skipping the BMW Championship. Nor is he skipping the Ryder Cup, Irish Open, Wentworth, or the Race to Dubai. It was a calculated move, as suspected, but it is for much-needed rest right before McIlroy goes into several big tournaments. McIlroy has nine very busy weeks ahead of him, and he needs to save his strength before each one. For now, though, he is focusing on retaining his position during the BMW Championship this week.

Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft
NFL

Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft

The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.