Orlando Magic Daily
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2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 1-17: The Best of the Best

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Alex Morgan, Orlando Pride
ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 12: Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan (13) during the NWSL soccer match between the Orlando Pride and Sky Blue FC on August 12, 2017 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Alex Morgan, Orlando Pride

Alex Morgan may very well be the most recognizable women’s soccer player in the United States (maybe the world). She has come to represent her sport to the masses.

So it is no surprise when the Orlando Pride, in their first season, moved heaven and earth to acquire her as an expansion franchise. They figured she could be that impactful and important — not just for ticket sales but for making the team better.

Morgan has proven she can make an impact on her own. She scored four goals last year with the Pride and has accumulated 73 total goals for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Her pedigree comes before her.

Morgan still got off to a slow start this year. She went on loan to Olympique Lyonnais and returned to Orlando nursing an injury. It took her a while to get going. And she announced Saturday she would not return on loan to France in this offseason.

That is good because right now the Orlando Pride are the only team in the city in line to make the postseason. And Morgan finding her rhythm with Marta and getting healthy has been a big part of that.

Morgan has eight goals, fifth in the league, and the Pride have now won five in a row to put themselves in third place with 35 points. And the season is quickly wrapping up. The Pride are loaded with talent and have found themselves in position to compete for the NWSL Championship (the title game happens to be coming to Orlando City Stadium on Oct. 14.

Morgan’s stats may not be at the same level as Marta. But she still has an undeniable pull. She is the marketing face for the franchise still and an inspiration for young women and girls around the country.

With the Pride winning, the focus remains on her. And she is delivering. Something that seems rare in the city these days.