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Alex Morgan is a soccer superstar. In 2009, she became the youngest member of the U.S. women\u2019s national soccer team. Her list of career accomplishments goes on\u2026and on\u2026and on. As a soccer fan, you probably already know all those facts. Did you know her jersey number is also her favorite number, 13? We bet you didn\u2019t!<\/p>\n
For some things you probably didn\u2019t know, check out the list of 13 fun facts about Alex Morgan below:<\/p>\n
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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Alex does not shy away from standing up for what she believes is right. In 2016, she and four other players filed a wage-discrimination action<\/a> against the U.S. Soccer Federation. The issue? The women\u2019s team was being paid around a quarter of the men\u2019s team salary. This is despite the fact that the women\u2019s team created $20 million more<\/i> in revenue than the men\u2019s team! Last year, an agreement was reached. Morgan, along with other USWNT stars, was pivotal in reaching a historic Collective Bargaining Agreement with U.S. Soccer and settling their equal pay lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Alex is not only incredibly athletic but also artistic! She wrote a book series titled The Kicks<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>for middle-grade readers. When she published the first book in May 2013, it reached number seven on the list of the New York Times Best Sellers for middle school-age children. The focus of the book series is soccer (of course), but she also instills messages about empowerment, self-confidence, and teamwork. No surprise there since those are values Alex shows on and off the field.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex Morgan played as a college athlete, but she put in the effort to become an accomplished student as well. She attended the prestigious University of California, Berkley, where she graduated a semester early with a degree in Political Economy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Alex married Orlando City midfielder, Servando Carrasco on New Year\u2019s Eve in 2014. The two met when they were both playing soccer<\/a> for UC Berkeley. They dated shortly after, got engaged in early December 2013, and married almost a year later. \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex has a sweet cat named Brooklyn who has six toes on each of its front paws. She also has two dogs, Blue and Kona.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the summer of 2009, during her college career, Alex studied abroad in the great city of Madrid.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex has a motorcycle license.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex Morgan is probably one of the most well-known vegan women\u2019s soccer players<\/a>. She credits her diet for her ability to train more and recover more quicker.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alex played many sports growing up, but she did not start club-team soccer until she was 14 years old. Before that, her love was gymnastics. Most soccer players who become stars start many years earlier. Although, this \u201clate start\u201d did not seem to affect Alex\u2019s abilities in the slightest!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n She played during the 2008 CONCACAF Women\u2019s U-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Her teammates lovingly gave her this nickname because of her youth and running style.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n2. Alex Morgan is a New York Times best-selling author<\/b><\/h2>\n
3. She hit the books in college, hard<\/b><\/h2>\n
4. She met her husband playing soccer in college
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<\/b><\/p>\n5. She has a cat with a quirk<\/b><\/h2>\n
6. She studied abroad<\/b><\/h2>\n
7. She has a need for speed<\/b><\/h2>\n
8. She lives a fully vegan lifestyle<\/b><\/h2>\n
9. She got a late start to soccer<\/b><\/h2>\n
10. Her first international goal was against Cuba<\/b><\/h2>\n
11. Alex Morgan\u2019s little-used nickname is Baby Horse<\/b><\/h2>\n
12. She incorporated maracas and Coke cans in her wedding<\/b><\/h2>\n