The United States women’s national team will not have Alex Morgan on its roster for the 2024 Olympics. This will be the first major event the team has missed the star forward since the 2008 Olympics when she made her team debut.
On Wednesday, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes announced her 18-player team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which included 10 players from last year’s World Cup. Not one of them is Morgan, who will be 35 years old next week.
Morgan is seventh in program history for goals scored with 123 and sixth for caps earned with 224 among current U.S. players.
“Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months,” said Hayes in a statement.
Due to serious injuries, USWNT striker Mallory Swanson and midfielder Catarina Macario were both unable to participate in the 2023 World Cup, but they were both selected to represent the country in the Olympics.
Hayes’ lineup includes numerous veterans, such as goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan, and Crystal Dunn (who is classified as a striker rather than a defense), who are making their third Olympic team.
Hayes officially began coaching the USWNT late last month, having accepted the position in November. She aims to lead the US Women’s National Team to its first Olympic gold medal since the 2012 London Games.
Morgan responded to the exclusion on social media Wednesday, stating, “Today, I’m upset about not getting the chance to represent our nation on the Olympic stage. This event will always have a special place in my heart, and I take great pleasure every time I wear the crest. In less than a month, I want to support and cheer for this squad with the rest of our nation. LFG”
The Americans are hoping to rebound from their lowest performance in a major tournament, having exited the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16.
According to U.S. Soccer, the average age of the USWNT’s Olympic squad is 26.8 years old, making it the youngest at an Olympics since 2008 and four years younger than the previous roster. Jenna Nighswonger, Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, and Jaedyn Shaw made their major tournament debuts.
Coffey had a minor injury earlier this month but returned to play for her side, Portland Thorns FC, on Saturday. Albert has received extensive playing time for the USWNT this season, but he came under fire in March for social media conduct that looked to be anti-LGBTQIA+.
Albert subsequently apologized, and Horan and Morgan spoke briefly the reporters from the next USWNT camp, expressing disappointment and stating that the problem will be handled internally.
Hayes has already spoken out about establishing an inclusive atmosphere, a statement she voiced shortly after Albert was booed by home fans in Colorado during a match against South Korea earlier this month.
“I want everybody to be patient,” Hayes remarked after the contest. “There are many young players on the field. They’re learning, but they want to give all for their jersey and their nation. Off the field, some make errors, while others must learn. My role as a coach is to educate and guide them.
“We aim to establish an atmosphere that is accepting, courteous, and inclusive. But I want you to know that when our players come to play and represent the national team, I will always make sure to teach and do the correct things in the background to ensure that everyone follows that.
“But I want to make sure that when our players come out and play for us, they know they are backed by everyone. For me, it is really crucial. Happy Pride. This is a terrific month.”
Veteran attacker Lynn Williams and goalie Jane Campbell join uncapped midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune as the team’s four alternates. They are not official Olympians until they replace a player on the roster, but they will travel to France with the squad.
The USWNT Olympic roster will play two games together before traveling for France: July 13 against Mexico and July 16 against Costa Rica.
On July 25, the United States women’s national team will face Zambia in their Olympic debut. They will next face Germany and Australia in their group stage.
The United States Women’s National Team has won a medal in all but one of the seven Olympics including women’s soccer, including four gold medals. In 2004, 2008, and 2012, the United States won the gold medal in consecutive years. They won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
