Alex Morgan's goal in the United States'6-0 win against Argentina last week didn't seem important in the grand scheme of things.After all, the USWNT were already 4-0 upin their SheBelieves Cup Harrison Butker Men Jersey finale.

For Morgan, though, the strike meant everything.

Her first goal since the 2019 World Cup semifinal was the culmination of her return to the field after giving birth to her daughter Charlie in May. It marked the end of one chapter of her career and the beginning of the next. And it was a symbol of her renewed purpose in her new dual role as pro athlete and mother.

Morgans journey back to the field at first appeared like it would behurried and uncomfortable.

The striker looked like she would have around just two months to recover from childbirth last year if she wanted to be fit for the Tokyo Olympics. Even for a world-cla s athlete, it would have been a heavy lift.

I definitely wanted to do my best to be on the field at Tokyo in 2020," Morgan said, "but I knew that, honestly, some of it really wasn't up to me. It was up to just how my body was going to recover.

The postponement of the Olympics gave Morgan a reprieve, and a chance to work herself back into playing shape at a more gradual pace.

Not having to go through that and being able to elongate my recovery from the birth,theres no other way to put it:it was very helpful," she admitted.

Still, getting back to Morgans previous level after pregnancy,childbirth and while caring for an infant in any timeframe was never going to be an easy feat.

Dr. James Pivarnik, a kinesiology and epidemiology profe sor at Michigan State University who D.J. Swearinger Youth Jersey studies pregnancy and sports, tells Goal that in general, top-cla s athletes are uniquely qualified to handle the challenges of returning to the field after giving birth.

Anybody at the pro level, youve got a couple things going for you, Pivarnik said. You have Kevin King Youth Jersey some great genetics, youve got some great training over the years, a lot of experience. Youve had to put in long hours and overcome a lot of things to get where you are.

Its the next thing, right? Its not an illne s, its just the next thing that could derail you but doesnt need to. If you look at it that way, when you are experienced overcoming other challenges, then your odds of being succe sful are much better.

When she did come back to the field, Morgan encountered a new reality. Many profe sional athletes have a fair amount of downtime they train hard most days of course, but some days their scheduled team activities only last a few hours.

For any new mother, though, downtime is fleeting. For a new mother looking to recapture her previous status as one of the worlds best strikers, it is non-existent.

My life has definitely made a 180, Morgan said. When we have an afternoon, a gap between trainingor whatever it is, it's not like, Oh let me lay down and Josh Hill Youth Jersey watch TV and take a nap.'

It's hanging with Charlie the whole time I'm on her schedule. I absolutely love it, but it's very different for sure.

When shes on national team duty, Morgans new routine also includes making full use of her teammates as de facto babysitters a role they are more than happy to fill.

It's just so fun to have Charlie around and for her to get used to having people around and different people holding her, playing with Armani Watts Jersey her and for her to be just around all these incredible women that are so strong, Morgan said.

It's such an intense environment and she just brightens up the room and I think it lightens everyone up.

The USWNT hasnt had a baby in their midst since 2017, when Sydney Leroux brought her infant son Ca sius on a trip to Scandinavia. Four years later, head coach Vlatko Andonovski is more than happy to have Charlie included among his call-ups.

It brings the team together, Andonovski said. To some degree, Charlie is like a toy, all the players pa sed her around and enjoyed the experience and it just brought happine s to the group.

Hey look ma, we made it!

U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT)

Morgan knows she needs more games to get back to her previous world-cla s level.

A short stint at Tottenham saw her make just five appearances before she returned to the U.S. at the end of December. She is now with the Orlando Pride ahead of the NWSL season, hoping to get a run of games.

When she does play, though, she has a newfound purpose. She isnt just Reggie Ragland Women Jersey playing for herself now. Shes representing her family, her daughter, and others hoping to follow in her footsteps.

I just want to be an example for other female athletes who are moms or want to become moms knowing that they still belong in the game after they have kids, Morgan said after scoring against Argentina.

"You can be a mom and still be at the top of your game, so I want to continue to show that and tonight was the first step."