Alex Morgan says tea-sipping celebration was nod to actress
LYON, France — Alex Morgan said her tea-sipping celebration at the Women’s World Cup was a nod to actress Sophie Turner’s amusing Instagram posts.
No, it wasn’t a dig at England or a random reference to the Boston Tea Party, or any number of other theories out there.
“My celebration was actually more ‘that’s the tea,’ which is telling a story, spreading news,” the U.S. forward said.
Morgan has been criticized for the celebration. Her former teammate on the Orlando Pride, Lianne Sanderson, a broadcast commentator during the World
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Cup for bein Sports, called the celebration “distasteful.”
“She can celebrate however she wants and I’m a big believer in the Americans and how they celebrate but this was disrespectful,” said Sanderson, a former striker for England’s national team.
Morgan pretended to sip tea after scoring the go-ahead goal in Tuesday night’s semifinal victory over England. Goalkeeper Alysaa Naeher preserved the 2-1 victory by stopping Steph Houghton’s penalty kick late in the game.
The victory sent the Americans into their third consecutive World Cup final. They’ll face the Netherlands for the championship on Sunday at Stade de Lyon.
Morgan spoke to reporters Friday, clarifying the source of the goal celebration and referencing the “Game of Thrones” actress. Turner’s Instagram is filled with her saying audacious or gossipy things, adding “That’s the tea” and taking a sip.
“I feel that there is some sort of double standard for females in sports to feel like we have to be humble in our successes and have to celebrate but not too much, or do something but always in a limited fashion,” Morgan said.
She said it’s hard to understand the outrage when men have celebrated goals by grabbing their crotches.
The U.S. national team has drawn some criticism for its goal celebrations in France. United States’ Alex Morgan celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup semifinal against England at the Stade de Lyon, outside Lyon, France.
First it was the repeated celebrations kind of having fun with the after every goal in a celebrations and embracing 13-0 rout of Thailand, which the moment,” Lloyd said. some said were unsportsmanYorkshire Tea company like. Carli Lloyd responded made light of Morgan’s celebration, in the next game with a golf tweeting a photo of a clap after her goal. bag of tea readied for shipping.
Megan Rapinoe struck an “Dear @USWNT, Sorry “Are you not entertained?” you had to drink pretend pose in the quarterfinals tea. If you’d run out of the against France before Morproper stuff, you only had gan’s tea sipping in the semis. to ask! PS No hard feelings
“I think everybody’s just — good luck on Sunday.”