Franchise icon Alex Morgan excited to watch Wave playoffs as a fan

The San Diego Wave will play their first playoff game since 2023 on Sunday afternoon.

They’ll be facing the Portland Thorns, a familiar opponent. The teams met twice during the regular season, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws.

One fan who will be in attendance on Sunday at Providence Park is former Wave star turned minority investor Alex Morgan, who admits she’s experiencing more nerves as a fan than she did when she played.

“I feel like throughout the game I actually end up getting more nervous as we get to, like, the 70th to 80th minute, whereas as a player, the nerves would kind of be at the very beginning and then at the end of the game, you’re just like, whatever,” she said. “You’re trying to manage a lead, or you’re trying to push for a goal, for a tie or win. So I think that the nerves are definitely different.”

Morgan was on the field for the Wave’s last playoff game, a loss to the team now known as the Seattle Reign. Veronica Latsko scored in the 47th minute to lead the Reign to an upset victory over top-seeded San Diego at Snapdragon Stadium.

In part because of that match, Morgan knows nothing is a given in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

“Being able to host a playoff game is great, but at the same time, anything can happen in the NWSL,” Morgan said. “It’s by far the most competitive league in the world.”

Morgan is embracing her new life as a businesswoman, running multiple ventures including her media company Togethxr and investment firm Trybe Ventures. Morgan recently agreed to join the NWSL’s advisory board.

“It’s been busy, both personally and professionally,” Morgan said. “I have wanted to continue to stay involved as much as I can on the soccer side, and that’s going to the games that keep me up with all of the news.”

Morgan is also a full-time mom to her daughter Charlie and son Enzo. She enjoys watching games at Snapdragon Stadium with her 5-year-old daughter.

“Charlie really loves Kailen (Sheridan),” Morgan said, laughing. “She actually told me the other day she wanted to be a goalkeeper. I was a little hesitant.”

A star forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team who netted over 120 goals, won two World Cups, and earned an Olympic gold medal, Morgan naturally expected her daughter to play the same position.

For her part, Sheridan said she was “honored” that Charlie wants to play in goal. The two have a ritual before games: Sheridan finds Charlie in the crowd and waves. Charlie “sends me a big wave back down for good luck,” Sheridan said.

Morgan isn’t the only celebrity athlete who is invested in the Wave.

Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler joined the club as a minority stakeholder this fall. Butler, who has a home in Poway, has long been a soccer fan and admires what the Wave organization is building.

It’s been an eventful season for San Diego, which has faced its share of challenges. The Wave started strong, going 7-3-3 and outscoring opponents 25-16 on their way to the No. 3 seed in the standings.

After the midseason break, however, they went 1-5-4.

“Obviously, they had to dig themselves out of a little hole in the middle of the season, and they were able to do so,” Morgan said.

In the final stretch of the regular season, the Wave found their form again. They outscored opponents 10-5 and won two of their final three matches.

“Obviously, you see the playoff line and where you need to get to,” Morgan said, “but the team knew what they had to do.”

A major factor in that resurgence was the emergence of Brazilian winger Dudinha, who has quickly become a fan favorite. She scored four goals in the final three matches and earned herself a starting spot in Eidevall’s lineup.

“She has been on a little bit of a tear lately, and it’s exactly what this team needed at the right time,” Morgan said. “So she’s an exciting player for sure, to be able to watch and just enjoy as a fan.”

First-year coach Jonas Eidevall successfully implemented his system while trusting young players like Trinity Armstrong and Kimmi Ascanio, integrating late additions Laurina Fazer and Dudinha, and relying on veterans like Kenza Dali, Delphine Cascarino and Sheridan to lead.

“The task that he had at the beginning of the season, it was an incredibly difficult and uphill one,” Morgan said.

“Given where we ended last year, given how many new players there were this year, how many players weren’t on the roster this year, left, or myself retired, so it was definitely a large task to take over.”

Now, the Wave have a chance to do something they’ve never accomplished before: win a title.

Morgan will be watching.

“I’m really looking forward to enjoying the playoffs and seeing the Wave make a big run,” she said.

NWSL playoffs, first round: No. 6 San Diego FC vs. No. 3 Portland Thorns

When: Sunday, noon

Where: Providence Park, Portland, Ore.

TV: Ch. 10