A few short weeks ago, six months after a nightmarish World Cup, Alex Morgan was being phased out.
She was left off the U.S. women's national team roster for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. She was, after 14 storybook years, on the outside looking in at two young strikers. She was an Olympic gold medalist but, suddenly, a 2024 Olympic longshot.
Until she got an unlikely call on the eve of the Gold Cup. There'd been an injury; the USWNT needed her.
And less than two weeks later, on Sunday night in Los Angeles, Morgan proved her persistent worth.