Golden State Warriors' All-Star forward Jimmy Butler III might be sidelined with a torn ACL since January, but that didn’t stop him from soaking up the atmosphere at the NWSL clash between San Diego Wave FC and Chicago Stars FC. The energy at Snapdragon Stadium was electric as San Diego secured a 2-0 victory.
Butler, who’s been keeping his spirits high, celebrated on the pitch with his favorite player, Melanie Barcenas. Barcenas, who found the net in the 72nd minute, shared a light-hearted moment with Butler, practicing a surfing goal celebration for future use.
However, the real highlight for Butler was meeting retired U.S. women's national team legend Alex Morgan. The San Diego Wave shared a video capturing the moment when Morgan entered Butler's suite. As Morgan and her husband, Servando Carrasco, greeted others, Butler couldn’t contain his excitement, pointing out Morgan to the camera with wide-eyed enthusiasm.
Morgan, a titan in women’s soccer, debuted for the USWNT in 2010. Her illustrious career includes 123 goals and 53 assists across 224 appearances, with two World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal to her name. She ranks fifth in all-time goals and ninth in appearances for the national team.
Her club career is equally impressive, with stints at Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride, and San Diego Wave. Notably, she won the UEFA Champions League with Lyon and played for Tottenham Hotspur in the Women's Super League. San Diego honored her contributions by retiring her No. 13 jersey last year.
Butler, who became a minority investor in the San Diego Wave last October, shares a deep passion for soccer. "Soccer has been a passion of mine for a long time," Butler expressed.
"Being part of the game in a meaningful way has always been a dream. San Diego is close to my heart, and I’m proud to invest in a club that’s pushing boundaries and setting new standards for women’s sports."
As the 2026 season kicks off, San Diego Wave is making waves with a strong start, standing 3-0-1 and tied at the top of the NWSL table.