National Women's Soccer League star Alex Morgan is being honest about why she has great upper-body strength. Morgan says her strong arms come from being a mom.

“My secret to strong arms? My toddlers insistence on being carried everywhere,” Morgan joked on social media. The forward and captain of the San Diego Wave FC is one of the longest-playing female soccer players in the United States. She helped her club to a 3-4-3 mark in 2024 NWSL action.

Morgan's dual role as player and mom

United States forward Alex Morgan (7, left) enters the field prior to the Concacaf W Gold Cup quaterfinal game between against Columbia at BMO Stadium.
© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Morgan is known as one of the best players in the NWSL, putting together a career that has been impressive to say the least. Her 2024 league season wasn't one of her strongest, but she still made an impact for her club. Morgan put together 16 shots, to go with an assist. She's been slowed down in 2024 due to an ankle injury, which caused her to miss several matches.

In her illustrious career, Morgan has also played in international competitions, representing the USA in the World Cup. She has played for professional soccer teams in England and France. In the NWSL and other domestic leagues, she has scored a total of 62 goals, per Sports Reference. Morgan is currently preparing to play in the Olympics, but her injury seems to be causing doubt if she will quality for the U.S. team.

Morgan has even put together an acting career, appearing in Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live concert film. She also has appeared in the Amazon Prime series The Kicks, appearing in the pilot. That show was about soccer players, so it wasn't too hard of a stretch for Morgan to play a role.

Despite her accolade-filled soccer career, it appears motherhood may be her most prized role. Morgan has frequently spoken publicly of her love of being a mother. She has acknowledged how difficult it is to be away from her daughter when she plays internationally.

“It's hard, because every day I miss her so much,” Morgan said during the 2023 World Cup, per The Spun. “But when she's here, I know that I'm playing two roles, as mom and soccer player.”

Morgan is certainly showing moms everywhere that it is okay to be a mother and have a full-time career, and not just because of the great arm strength it can give you.