WINNIPEG — Four years ago, the world met Alex Morgan.
It was 2011 and the then-21-year-old forward dazzled in her first World Cup. The youngest player on a U.S. squad that lost to Japan in a penalty shootout in the final, Morgan came off the bench in five of six games and scored two goals—once in the semifinal and again in the championship game.
ESPN cameras were constantly focused on her. Any time the U.S. scored, viewers saw Morgan jump into her teammates’ arms, celebrating wildly with a perfect smile. She immediately became the new “it” girl and role model.