# Alex Morgan scores first USWNT goal in nearly a year — wearing a new jersey number

Feb 21, 2024  
Emma Hruby

For the first time in 363 days, Alex Morgan has a goal with the U.S. women’s national team.

Morgan buried a penalty kick on Tuesday night, marking her 122nd international goal – and her first since Feb. 22 of last year against Brazil. It snaps a 10-game scoring drought, one of the longest of Morgan’s storied USWNT career.

It also marked her first penalty kick since missing one against Colombia last October. She similarly missed a PK at the World Cup last summer.

Even with those misses, interim head coach Twila Kilgore had no hesitations about putting Morgan in to take the penalty.

“I wouldn’t put Alex [Morgan] in that position if I didn’t have total confidence in faith that she was going to put those away,” Kilgore said.

Morgan was a late addition to the squad, coming in after Mia Fishel tore her left ACL in training. Concacaf rules dictate that a player must wear the number of the player they’re replacing, which is why Morgan wore No. 7 rather than her usual 13. Similarly, Becky Sauerbrunn was wearing Alana Cook’s No. 5 as Cook’s replacement.

“Yes, this feels as weird as it looks,” Morgan tweeted about the number change. She’s worn No. 13 for the USWNT since 2010.

Morgan’s goal celebration played into the weirdness of her wearing a different number than usual, as she did a “check my number” celebration.

“Very pleased for her to come in after a late call-up and convert a goal when she was asked to,” Kilgore said. “And I think we’ll see even better of her as the tournament goes on.”