ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. Soccer's cancelation of a Victory Tour stop in Honolulu last weekend for the women's national team came as a bit of an earthquake in the soccer world, but it was no surprise who led the outcry over poor field conditions at Aloha Stadium.

It was Alex Morgan.

The star striker called the turf "horrible" and then took a direct shot at the organization for whom she plays, telling Laura Vecsey of FOX Sports that "obviously we want to play in front of these fans and we want to train before the game, but injuries happen when you don't protect yourself and when you're not protected from those higher up from you."

There is no one in women's soccer who is "higher up" than Morgan, and that is especially so with Abby Wambach retiring. Morgan is one of most recognizable athletes in international sports and one of the richest in her sport. Yet she is taking it upon herself to lead, even if it means speaking out when others in her position might not.

Last August, she tweeted to the National Women's Soccer League (and her two million followers) that the hotel conditions during her team's Kansas City stop were unacceptable. She wrote "there's no other way to address continuing problems" and named the exact problem (bed bugs, mold) and the exact venue (the Adams Mark).

And back in May, Morgan made her feelings known to Time Magazine about FIFA president Sepp Blatter, saying, "I have experienced sexism multiple times, and I'm sure I will a lot more. I feel like I'm fighting for female athletes. At the FIFA World Player of the Year event, FIFA executives and FIFA president Sepp Blatter didn't know who I was. And I was being honored as top three in the world. That was pretty shocking."

That's three powerful statements in one year, and the most powerful statement might be yet to come. Morgan, 26, is now the face of an expansion NWSL franchise here in this rapidly growing soccer city in Florida, standing side-by-side with the star of the Major League Soccer team that just completed its first season, Kaka of Orlando City SC, and that happened because she wanted it to happen.

"I want to continue to grow the women's game," Morgan told Yahoo Sports. "For Portland I felt they had done a great job bringing soccer to the city and the community. I felt like it was my time to start with a new club that needed me more."

This has been a landmark year in women's sports, from Serena Williams to Lydia Ko to Carli Lloyd to Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey. Yet Morgan has contributed to that in her own significant way. She has won a World Cup, yes, but she has also taken important stands when necessary. She has not been loud or shrill about it. She has been thoughtful and clear.

"She's got that strength of character that if she has an opinion, to be able to express that opinion, and express it without any bias," new Orlando Pride coach Tom Sermanni said. "She has a view, she will express that view. For me, that's an asset."

It's especially an asset in the go-along-to-get-along culture of women's sports. Airing grievances on the men's side is almost expected. On the women's side? Not as much. Criticism of women is quicker and harsher, especially women who make a lot of money, as Morgan does.

"It's probably treated differently than guys making those statements," Sermanni said. "It's OK for guys to say these things, but women are saying that? I don't know if we've taken that step where we say if they have those concerns, they should say them. If the men's team were playing on a field that was substandard, they would make the same statements."

Morgan is unafraid to use her influence, and now she is doing so with more than just words.

View photos The USWNT torch has already been passed from Wambach to Morgan. (Getty Images) More

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