France, July 6 -- 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 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 ...