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In a surprising turn of events, USWNT forward Alex Morgan will not be joining the team headed to Paris for the Olympics this summer. Following the USWNT Olympic roster announcement by coach Emma Hayes Wednesday, Morgan took to social media to express her disappointment.
“Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage. This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest. In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country,” Morgan stated on X, formerly Twitter.
Hayes revealed her 18-player roster and four alternates on Wednesday, marking her first major tournament assignment after joining the team last month. Hayes led the USWNT to two multi-goal, shutout victories in friendly matches against South Korea earlier this month, setting high expectations for her Olympic strategy.
Morgan’s exclusion from the roster has sent ripples through the soccer community. Her quiet performance in recent training camps, partly due to a cautious approach to prevent injury, may have influenced Hayes' decision. The forward pool's depth and the standout performances of Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson in the NWSL made the competition for spots tough.
Alex Morgan has over 100+ international goals
Morgan, one of the most well-known figures in U.S. women's soccer, has been a consistent presence on the national team. The 34-year-old forward has 224 caps and 123 international goals, making her the most capped player in the pool, per Meg Linehan of The Athletic.
The finalized 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s soccer team roster includes:
Goalkeepers:
-Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage)
-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders:
-Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
-Emily Fox (Arsenal)
-Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC)
-Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit)
-Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
-Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Midfielders:
-Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain)
-Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC) et
-Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon)
-Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
-Catarina Macario (Chelsea)
Forwards:
-Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
-Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
-Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC)
-Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC)
-Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Alternates:
-Jane Campbell (Goalkeeper, Houston Dash)
-Hal Hershfelt (Midfielder, Washington Spirit)
-Croix Bethune (Midfielder, Washington Spirit)
-Lynn Williams (Forward, NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Korbin Albert’s inclusion comes despite past controversies and a recent apology for sharing anti-LGBTQ+ content on social media. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has played in 11 games for the U.S. this year, including the W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup. Albert's inclusion, given Sam Coffey's recent ankle injury, was anticipated. Despite earlier controversies over the anti-LGBTQ+ posts, Albert continues to play amid mixed reactions.
The USWNT will face Zambia, Germany, and Australia in the group stage in France, with matches in Marseille and Nice. Before heading to Paris, the team will play two send-off games in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., against Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively. Hayes also named three training players for the pre-Olympic camp starting July 8.
