Veteran forward Alex Morgan will not be competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics after a surprising omission from the U.S. national team roster. The decision was made by coach Emma Hayes, who has selected a significantly younger squad. Morgan, a three-time Olympian and two-time Women’s World Cup winner, was the most notable absence on the 18-player list announced on Wednesday. This roster marks the youngest for the U.S. since 2008 and signals a clear shift in strategy as the team looks ahead to the 2027 Women’s World Cup under Hayes.
Despite recently returning from a left ankle injury sustained in April, the 34-year-old Morgan missed the cut. She had been included in the squad for the U.S. friendlies against South Korea earlier this month, suggesting she was in contention. Notably, she was excused from her San Diego Wave club match last weekend. It is important to note that the Olympic roster is smaller than the 23-player team selected for the Women’s World Cup and other major tournaments.
Coach Hayes, who transitioned from leading English club Chelsea to the U.S. team in November, emphasized the highly competitive nature of the roster selection process. She highlighted the difficult choices made, given the dedication and efforts of all potential candidates over the past ten months.
The Olympic roster showcases a blend of experienced players and rising stars. Versatile veteran Crystal Dunn, known for her defensive prowess in recent years, has been included as a forward. She joins Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw in the forward line. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, despite a recent thigh injury, was selected for the squad, having returned to play for her NWSL team, the Chicago Red Stars. Hayes also chose goalkeeper Casey Murphy, while Jane Campbell was selected as one of the four alternates, alongside midfielders Hal Harshfelt and Croix Bethune, and forward Lynn Williams.
The U.S. team’s journey to the Olympics is marked by a coaching change and a disappointing performance at the previous World Cup. Former coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned following the team’s early exit from the tournament. Twila Kilgore took over as interim coach, awaiting Hayes’ arrival. Kilgore now serves as an assistant coach. The Olympic team includes ten players from the World Cup roster.
The United States holds a dominant record in Olympic soccer, having won four gold medals, more than any other nation. However, their last gold medal came in the 2012 London Games. The team fell to Sweden in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and secured bronze in Tokyo. Their current FIFA ranking of No. 5 reflects their recent decline.
Morgan’s absence from the Olympic team comes after she was also excluded from the CONCACAF Gold Cup earlier this year. She was later added to the squad after Mia Fishel suffered an ACL tear.
The U.S. team will play two send-off matches before heading to France. They will face Mexico on July 13 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey and then Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington on July 16. Their Olympic campaign begins on July 25 against Zambia in Nice.
