Football player Alex Morgan navigates her career after playing
Athletes nowadays have unparalleled opportunities to take advantage of their sports star by mergeing things, advocacy and philanthropic companies through social media and online communities.
Football -super star Alex Morgan and her old business partner Dan Levy discuss how Morgan maps her transition to the company, content, foundation and non -profit work to the latest episode of Variety Podcast “Strictly Business.”
Morgan withdrew from professional football in September 2024 after 11 seasons with the National Women’s Soccer League, as a charter player from the first season of the competition in 2013. For the national team of the American ladies, Morgan played in 22 World Cup matches and scored nine goals. During her 15-year-old professional career, she played in 16 Olympic matches and scored six goals.
Four years ago, women’s sports accounted for 4% of the total TV time dedicated to live games and related coverage. That number was enriched by up to 16% in 2025 and it is probably 20% by next year, according to research conducted by Deloitte and the collection, the female -oriented marketing arm of Wassernerman, where Levy serves as an executive VP.
It is no coincidence that the sport of women now recommends more of the spotlights. Professional athletes such as Morgan have worked hard to argue for women’s competitions, requirement pay parity at a professional level and fight for equity in youth sports. Morgan collaborated with three colleague -sports leaders – Wnba Great Sue Bird, Snowboarder Chloe Kim and Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel – in 2021 to launch Togethxr. It is a sports brand that includes everything, from content production to brand consulting to advocacy and supporting services for female athletes who are also mothers.
“We work together with brands to activate in the women’s sports space. We also do a lot of studio work in collaboration with other media brands or production companies,” said Morgan during the Q&A on July 17 as part of VarietyAnnual sports and entertainment breakfast in West Hollywood. “We are a space where we are familiar with female athletes and brands because it is a company built by female athletes and for female athletes.
Morgan’s advocacy about the issue of equal reward for women in sport expanded to her prominent participation in a 2019 Pay Parity law case against her employer, the national team of the American women. The players reached a settlement of $ 24 million in 2022.
Morgan’s courage to argue for higher wages and better working conditions for the women’s team was particularly important, it came “during her peak powers as a player”, Levy emphasized. Morgan is also unusually focused on branching business and public opportunities. “Many athletes are struggling with trying to find out how they can manage their career and be the best in what they do, on the field, on the field and at the same time, the time to build their business outdoors. … It is rare that you have someone who can do all those things in the flourishing of their career.”
(Depicted: Alex Morgan and then Levy on Variety‘s Sport and Entertainment Breakfast in West Hollywood)
“Strictly Business” is Variety’S Weekly Podcast with conversations with market leaders about the company of media and entertainment. ((Click here to subscribe to our free newsletter.) New episodes debut every week and can be downloaded on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, Soundcloud and more.
