United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has selected her 18 players to compete for gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Manys fans were asking in the days leading up did Alex Morgan make Olympic roster for Paris?
No, she did not.
Here are the 18 players who will aim to win the USA’s first gold medal in women’s soccer since 2012.
USWNT Olympic roster
#Paris2024 ready
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 26, 2024
GOALKEEPERS
- Alyssa Naeher
- Casey Murphy
DEFENDERS
- Tierna Davidson
- Emily Fox
- Naomi Girma
- Casey Krueger
- Jenna Nighswonger
- Emily Sonnett
MIDFIELDERS
- Lindsey Horan
- Korbin Albert
- Sam Coffey
- Rose Lavelle
- Catarina Macario
FORWARDS
- Crystal Dunn
- Trinity Rodman
- Jaedyn Shaw
- Sophia Smith
- Mallory Swanson
Alternates: Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, midfielder Hal Hershfelt, midfielder Croix Bethune and forward Lynn Williams.
This will be the first time the USWNT have played without Morgan at an international tournament since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“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,” Hayes said in a release.
“Choosing an 18-player roster plus alternates involved many considerations, but I am excited for the group we have selected and I’m looking forward to building on the work from last camp as we head into the Send-Off matches and then onto France. These are great opportunities for us to continue to show the progress we are making.”
Morgan put out a statement on Twitter sharing her disappointment with being left off the roster.
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… pic.twitter.com/NAXmQnNN8B— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 26, 2024
At the start of the year the soon-to-be 35-year-old was on the outside looking in for the USWNT’s roster. For the Concacaf W Gold Cup in February she was left off the roster for rising Chelsea striker Mia Fishel.
An unfortunate knee injury to Fishel opened the door for Morgan who was on a year-long scoring drought for the national team. She then impressed in the Gold Cup looking like a renewed attacking presence. Morgan scored twice in the Gold Cup.
Since the Gold Cup Morgan has failed to score in her three previous appearances with the national team. An ankle injury sidelined the San Diego Wave star from April 19 thru May 23.
In NWSL play Morgan has made eight appearance this season, featured for 536 minutes, has one assist and no goals scored.
It seems that Hayes has opted to bring another defender rather than Morgan. Several roster predictions saw Morgan included and Casey Krueger as an alternate.
The USWNT 18-player roster will play two July send-off game against Mexico (July 13) and Costa Rica (July 16).
In the Olympics, Hayes’ side will face Zambia, Germany and Australia in the group stage.
