PORTLAND, OR—It was a quintessential Alex Morgan finish.



The shooting angle was almost nonexistent. Many strikers would’ve tried to take extra touches and cut inside to find a better angle, giving defenders time to catch up. Some would’ve taken the shot and missed, unable to find the space between the goalkeeper and the post. But Morgan did what she always seems to do—she found that tiny, precise window and propelled the Orlando Pride to a 2-1 upset win at Providence Park on Saturday.



The goal may be the perfect explanation for why U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis will have a hard time replacing Morgan anytime soon, even as the coach emphasizes youth and roster competition.



With the style the U.S. employs, there is perhaps no better player to have trying to score goals than 28-year-old Morgan, who can out-run defenders and score from all over the field—even those wide angles. But it’s possible that may...