Alex Morgan reveals how becoming a mother made her a better player as USWNT star opens up on initial childbirth recovery struggles

In the new Netflix Documentary Under Pressure, Morgan revealed how the effects of giving birth forced her to change the way she played the game. It caused her to lose speed and pace, however it may have been a blessing in disguise, as the 34-year-old believes it has allowed her to become a better forward.

“Coming back from giving birth was hard,” Morgan said in the documentary. “I didn’t feel super quick or super fast right away. So, I adjusted my game a little bit as I was getting my speed back.”

“Once I did get that back, I had already adapted my game to kind of finding the ball, and I feel like I’m just finding myself in good goal-scoring positions more frequently than I ever have before."

Morgan and the USWNT crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in ugly fashion. However, the blame isn't solely on the San Diego Wave Star - manager Vlatko Andonovski resigned after the tournament after criticism surfaced over his tactics and management, too. The 34-year-old striker gave birth to her daughter in 2020 when she was with the Orlando Pride, scoring five goals upon her return from pregnancy. She followed it up in 2022 with her best-ever scoring season, netting 20 times for the Wave, before 2023 brought just seven goals in 25 appearances.

The USWNT star is currently in offseason mode, meaning a lot of her free time right now is likely being spent with Charlie, other friends and family. With the festive season upon us as well, Morgan and others will go about their daily routines before reporting for preseason in 2024.