PORTLAND, Ore. – In her first ever home match for Portland Thorns FC in 2013, forward Alex Morgan scored what eventually proved the game winner against rival Seattle Reign FC.
That match, which displayed the same tremendous fan support that the Thorns have become known for, was also Morgan's first taste of Portland club soccer culture. It left a lasting impression.
"Initially when we started playing here, I was definitely surprised by the thousands of season ticket holders that we got right away," Morgan said. "Because in women's soccer it's great to have a crowd of 5,000, 10,000 for a club game, but to average [almost] 14,000 for a club team is a little uncommon and it was unknown before the Thorns.
"Every team wants to come play here around the country. They live for the games that they play against us here in this stadium."
When Morgan learned that she had been allocated by U.S. Soccer to Thorns FC ahead of the inaugural 2013 NWSL season, she was thrilled.
"It was the best organization to play for and it was going to be a pioneer team for the NWSL," she said. "I knew that Portland was going to be a team that other teams would turn to and try to replicate what we're doing."
Since joining the Thorns, Morgan's play has been just as strong for club as it has been for country. Morgan has scored fourteen goals and tallied nine assists for the club in 32 matches and in 2013, Morgan's performances earned her a place on the NWSL Best XI Second Team.
Entering the 2015 season and ahead of the World Cup in June, Morgan reflected on her time in Portland and noted how her experiences with the club had helped her on the international stage.
"I feel like I have more of a leadership role with the Thorns and I think that helps translate to the national team," she said. "With the amount of fans that we get and the environment that we play in week-in and week-out, it replicates a national team game and ups the level of play when teams want to come play us here at Providence Park."
She noted that playing in a league like the NWSL, which has continued to grow and improve on the field in each year of its existence, has been critical in her preparations for the World Cup.
"The NWSL just continues to improve in the quality of players and having a lot of internationals here as well, we get to see different styles of play, we get to see different cultures coming together and that naturally is going to help me on the international stage," she said.
"I think playing every week and getting your body used to that and getting your body fit and ready for a game once a week is good for us," she added. “It's good to get 90 minute games. You can't really replicate that in a practice environment, so I think it's the best thing for us to be playing for a league [like the NWSL] that has games every week."
But as busy as Morgan has been with national team duty, when she's in Portland she marvels at the city's unique appreciation for soccer and the reception that she gets from people around town.
"It's a little different from other cities in that when people see you around the city, they don't just want a picture or an autograph, they actually want to talk to you and give you a pat on the back and tell you how you represent the city well," she said.
Like many transplants to Portland, though, Morgan loves the Rose City's vibrant food culture. Whether that's finding a great coffee shop or going to Pine State Biscuits with her visiting family, Morgan is struck by Portland's diverse array of dining options.
"It's such a foodie city that I'm always up for looking online and looking at PDX Eater and just trying to find the top places," she said. "I haven't been here in four or five months, so it's always like, 'OK, what did I love last year and what did I want to try new this year?'"
With the NWSL season underway, Morgan says that she's excited to get back on the pitch with her Thorns teammates.
"The quality on the field is great," she said. "We have some fantastic players and I could just see the level has raised so much from last year."
