The world of women’s soccer is buzzing once again, and this time the spotlight shines brightly on Alex Morgan—a name synonymous with excellence, leadership, and unmistakable flair both on and off the pitch. On Thursday, Upper Deck, the renowned memorabilia and trading card company based in Carlsbad, California, announced that it had inked an exclusive memorabilia and trading card deal with the retired U.S. soccer icon. The move is more than just another business transaction; it’s a celebration of Morgan’s enduring legacy and her ever-growing impact on the sport and its culture.
“Alex is a pioneer and a leader on and off the field. She has paved the way for generations to follow, and continues to push women’s sports forward,” Upper Deck president Jason Masherah said in a statement. “As a Southern California company, Alex’s commitment to San Diego makes this collaboration particularly special for us. Her commitment to helping the next generation and efforts throughout the community are inspiring and we at Upper Deck are honored to support those efforts.”
Morgan’s journey from a promising collegiate athlete to a global superstar reads like a script written for the big screen. She was the first overall pick in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer draft, coming out of the University of California, Berkeley. Right out of the gate, she made her mark, helping the Western New York Flash secure a championship in her rookie year. Just two years later, she played a pivotal role in guiding the Portland Thorns to the title in the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season in 2013.
But Morgan’s impact stretches far beyond club triumphs. As a three-time Olympian, she helped the U.S. women’s national team clinch gold at the 2012 London Olympics. She was also instrumental in the U.S. squad’s run to two Women’s World Cup titles, cementing her status among the sport’s all-time greats. Her career stats are nothing short of dazzling—she ranks in the top 10 for national team appearances, goals, and assists, a testament to her relentless drive and consistency at the highest level.
In September 2024, after an illustrious career, Morgan hung up her boots as a member of San Diego Wave FC. The tributes have been pouring in ever since. This Sunday, September 7, 2025, the Wave will retire her iconic No. 13 jersey at Snapdragon Stadium, closing one remarkable chapter while ensuring her influence will linger for generations. In a touching tribute, the club will distribute 10,000 commemorative pink headbands—Morgan’s signature look since 2012—to fans in attendance.
The story of the pink headband is as unique as Morgan herself. While many athletes embrace a signature look, few have turned it into a cultural phenomenon. Morgan first donned the pink pre-wrap as a subtle tribute to her now-husband’s mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. “I thought wearing pink felt like a small way to support her, something I could carry into every game,” Morgan told The Athletic. “Over time, it just stuck. That pink headband became my signature, something I’ve worn since I was 18 years old. Seventeen years later, it’s still part of who I am.”
What started as a simple gesture quickly morphed into a fashion staple. Young players across the country—and even Morgan’s teammates—began sporting colorful pre-wrap headbands. Lindsey Heaps, Morgan’s former co-captain, once joked about choosing red headbands so fans wouldn’t accuse her of copying Morgan. “One of the first times I wore pink, someone said I’m trying to copy Alex Morgan,” Heaps recalled to The New York Times in 2023.
Pre-wrap, or M-wrap, was originally designed in the early 1970s by Mueller Sports Medicine to protect athletes’ ankles. But when referees banned hard-plastic hair accessories, women athletes found a new use for the soft foam strip. On Morgan’s head, it became iconic—and the start of a new business journey. In 2012, Morgan approached Mueller Sports, eager to formalize her support for the product she already loved. “Alex actually came to Mueller,” John Cayer, the company’s president, explained. “She came to us and said, ‘I love this product. Could we work together?’ This was back in 2012. She wasn’t a superstar by any means yet. But she went on to become one of the top athletes in the world, men or women.”
The partnership with Mueller lasted until her retirement in 2024, with Morgan’s face gracing packaging and her influence spreading across soccer and beyond. “She wasn’t just an endorser; she set a trend, a trend that’s continued until now,” Cayer said. Morgan’s business savvy didn’t stop there. In 2021 alone, she boasted 23 endorsement deals, according to SponsorUnited, making her one of the most financially successful women’s soccer players ever.
But the road wasn’t always paved with gold. On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Morgan revealed that she made just $300 per match in her first NWSL season, which spanned 22 games. “In soccer, over the last 15 to 17 years, I’ve sacrificed a lot and left plenty on the table to help this league (the NWSL) grow. Like many of my teammates, I often took less than I deserved,” she told The Athletic. “Now, the league is in a place where players are earning six figures, and soon, seven figures, which is incredible. But that wasn’t the case for me. So moving forward, I made sure I got my true value. I took less for too many years, and I’m not doing that anymore.”
Morgan’s business interests have only grown in her post-playing days. She co-founded Togethxr, a women’s sports media and commerce company, alongside fellow athletes Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird. Togethxr’s clothing line recently generated $6 million in revenue, and its latest partnership with the London City Lionesses will see the slogan ‘Everybody Watches Women’s Sports’ emblazoned on the team’s kits for the upcoming Women’s Super League season. Morgan also co-founded Trybe Ventures with her husband, Servando Carrasco, and holds minority stakes in both the San Diego Wave and the Unrivaled women’s basketball league.
“She has led the way in thinking about how athletes engage with the brands they work with, and if it will feel real to the audience,” said Emily Sisson, senior vice president of sponsorships, athlete and partner marketing at OneTeam Partners. “When it comes to partnerships with women and women athletes, I do think that the most successful ones are the ones that are truly the most natural for the women to engage with daily. Alex wrote the playbook when it comes to that.”
As the San Diego Wave prepares to retire Morgan’s jersey this weekend, fans will celebrate not just the goals and the trophies, but the trailblazing spirit that made Morgan a role model for millions. Her pink headband, now a symbol of resilience and individuality, will live on in stadiums, playgrounds, and, perhaps, in the next generation—her five-year-old daughter Charlie included. Morgan quipped, “If I could find a pre-wrap that has sparkles in it (for her), I mean, game over.”
With her playing days behind her but her influence only growing, Alex Morgan remains a force in women’s sports—a pioneer, a businesswoman, and an inspiration whose legacy is far from finished.
