Farewell to Alex Morgan, the NWSL's greatest champion

United States Women's National Team star Alex Morgan bookended her National Women's Soccer League career with full houses.

Morgan helped sell out the inaugural match of the NWSL in 2013 when her Portland Thorns played the Kansas City Blues. On Sunday night, she was largely responsible for selling out her final game in the league when her San Diego Wave played the North Carolina Courage.

Two milestones. Two packed houses. But the difference between the two was staggering.

When Morgan played in the inaugural NWSL match in 2013, a "packed house" meant 6,784 fans . When Morgan was cheered off the field in her final match, 26,516 fans — and a national television audience — bid her farewell.

It's Morgan and her peers working on behalf of the NWSL Players Association who have made this growth possible.

They believed from the start that keeping athletes healthy, happy and fairly paid would attract top talent, that top talent would generate a stronger on-field product and that a stronger on-field product would lead to increased revenue across the board. They were right.

A few weeks ago, they announced a landmark, new collective bargaining agreement and became the first American professional sports league of any gender to eliminate the draft.

"The draft is an antiquated model that empowers teams to decide for players instead of players deciding for themselves," NWSLPA President Tori Huster said in a statement . "Now, players can choose the team environment that fits their needs and maximizes their opportunities. Teams will need to step up to create environments that appeal to players."

It's a big step forward, but it's one of many created by Morgan and her peers. And, crucially, it's not expected to be the last. Morgan's playing career is over, but she's interested in staying involved as the NWSL continues to grow.

"My next step in soccer is to be a fan of the San Diego Wave, but it's [also] to continue to advocate for players, and it's to drive the standard of this club, of the NWSL, it's to be a fan on the international stage of the U.S. women's national team," Morgan said after her final match . "And more to come."

After hanging up her soccer cleats for good, Morgan leaves behind a peerless legacy: two World Cups, an Olympic gold medal, a Champions League title and more.

But her tireless advocacy for women's soccer in America should not be lost amid those trophies.

Morgan is unequivocal in her support for the NWSL and unyielding in her belief that its growth should never come at the expense of player welfare. Her efforts have paid off for fans, athletes, owners and sponsors alike.

Eleven years after its inaugural season, the NWSL is the top women's soccer league in the world, dwarfing its European competitor and attracting top stars such as Zambia's Barbra Banda and Brazil's Marta.

But the NWSL isn't just setting records for soccer. Per SportsPro Media , it's the top women's league of any sport by revenue — not even the WNBA can compete.

Morgan is an athlete who used every ounce of her star power to improve playing conditions for her peers. In doing so, she helped develop one of the healthiest, wealthiest and most fascinating sports leagues on the planet.