The United States women’s national team fandom is divided on one big question. Should Alex Morgan go to the Olympics this summer?
Only 18 players will be on USWNT head coach Emma Hayes’ roster this summer as the USA seek their first gold medal in women’s soccer since 2012. Does Morgan deserve one of the coveted roster spots?
Alex Morgan Olympics debate
Morgan was on the outside looking in at the start of 2024. When the USWNT Gold Cup roster was released in February Morgan’s name was nowhere to be found.
The roster snub wasn’t entirely shocking considering she was on a one-year goal drought spanning 11 games for the U.S. heading into the Gold Cup.
Sophia Smith and Mia Fishel were the strikers selected for the tournament, however an ACL injury to Fishel ruled her out and brought Morgan back into the picture.
The 34-year-old striker then gave some of her best performances in years scoring two goals in the tournament and being a reliable source for link-up play and a nightmare for defenders. Her speed isn’t what it once was, but she made up for it in other areas.
In her AM7 era pic.twitter.com/8jST89DR2c
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) February 24, 2024
The “Alex Morgan is back” hype train was full steam ahead as she was given the start in both SheBelieves Cup games… but then the train slowed.
Morgan didn’t have nearly as much of an impact in the SheBelieves Cup with two so-so performances. Smith was the hero in the final scoring two goals.
What does Hayes do? Morgan has shown her best and worst on the field in the past year.
Does Hayes take the risk of bringing Morgan who has been hot and cold?
The scenario of Morgan not on the Olympic roster would likely mean Smith and Catarina Macario as the two strikers. We at The18 predict that Morgan, Smith and Macario will all be called up for the Olympics with Smith used as a winger and No. 9.
Morgan does have one thing no other forwards on the team has. She brings much-needed experience of playing in the Olympics.
In The18’s USWNT Olympic roster prediction Morgan is the only forward on the list with real Olympic experience. Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Jaedyn Shaw have never played a minute in the Summer Games while Macario got minimal playing time in the 2020 Games.
How much weight does Morgan’s veteran experience hold in terms of making the cut for the Olympics?
As of now we at The18 predict that Morgan will be on the plane to Paris this summer. We’ll have a much better idea in June for Hayes’ first games in charge. If Morgan is still starting in June, then she’s likely a lock for the Olympics.
