Alex Morgan Fined By NWSL

US National Team Soccer Star Alex Morgan was fined after complaints of a dismissed penalty during her game on September 6th.

MaryKate Lillis, Reporter

Oct 27, 2023

Alex Morgan was in action for the San Diego Wave carrying the ball towards the goal, when she was recklessly slid into by a KC Current defender Stine Ballisager. No penalty was called, making Morgan furious about the call.

After the game Morgan took to Twitter, “In what world is this not a penalty and red card, or even foul,” Morgan said. “Completely reckless and the leg going in for the tackle doesn’t even get a ball when I cut her? Just glad I saw her coming and didn’t plant on that leg or I’d 100% not be walking today.”

Fans on Twitter had mixed reactions, some taking Morgan’s side and others disagreeing with her sequence of events. Critics believe that Ballisager made a clean tackle and got to the ball first before taking Morgan down.

“110% clean tackle. Ball first. Actually, she hits the ball with BOTH of her legs before making contact with Morgan,” wrote one poster on Twitter.

Another user wrote, “You CANNOT go to the ground this close to an attacker so you are sliding right through her body. This is reckless and endangerment, a straight red and penalty kick.”

The league accused Morgan of breaching NWSL regulations, forcing the league to take action. A statement from the league said, “The National Women’s Soccer League announced today it has issued a fine to San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan for comments detrimental to the league made on social media on September 17, 2023, in violation of Section 12.2.5 (e) ‘Prejudicial Statements and Public Criticism’ of the League Operations Manual.”

The NWSL didn’t announce how much Morgan will be fined, but she will have to give money to the league.

San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney declined to speak onthe officiating after the game. “I don’t have anything to say on anything else,” Stoney said. “I’m not going to give the league any more money.” Stoney has already been fined twice for questioning a referee’s call.

Many of Morgan’s teammates have her back. USWNT star forward Sophia Smith took to Twitter to defend her teammate, “This is so backward,” Smith said. “Priorities are all messed up.”

Wave still walked away from the game with a 2-1 win, but Morgan left feeling defeated.

About the Contributor

MaryKate Lillis, Podcast Editor

MaryKate Lillis is a senior and second-year staffer on Le Journal. She loves playing soccer, watching love island, and drinking diet coke! One of her favorite hobbies is nannying and taking care of kids, which makes her so excited to potentially work with them in the future! MaryKate is most passionate about revamping Sion Student Media’s podcast, making it something students can enjoy every week! MaryKate is most excited to spend her last moments of senior year making memories with her friends and soaking in every good and bad memory. One of her biggest pieces of advice is, “Don’t let your mind convince you you can’t do something, on my first year of Le Journel I was always siking myself out thinking I couldn’t complete all my tasks on time. My biggest piece of advice is find a niche that you are passionate about and share it with your piers, you never know how your creative ideas can benefit the staff and the project your working together as a team!”