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June 27 2024
Alex Morgan: US women's soccer veteran Alex Morgan will not be on the squad list for next month's Olympic Games in Paris, a symbol of a change taking place within the women's national team.
Head coach Emma Hayes, who is leading the team, announced her team for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday. This team of 22 players includes 18 players going to Paris and four alternate players. This includes only eight players from the 2020 Olympics, which were held in Tokyo in 2021. Apart from this, 10 members of the 2023 World Cup team are also included.
Morgan's departure from the roster is a sign that change is coming to the team, which has been extremely successful with incredibly skilled players over the past several seasons. But that generation has found itself lagging behind other countries in recent tournaments, finishing third at the Tokyo Games and exiting the 2023 World Cup on penalties in the round of 16. Hayes, who was brought in after that World Cup disappointment, has the task of bringing in the next generation of U.S. women to fulfill expectations of success for the women's national team after the 2016 World Cup.
Morgan expressed disappointment at the selection but said she would support the team next month.
"Today, I am disappointed to not have the opportunity to represent my country on the Olympic stage. This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I am so proud every time I win it," she said in a post on X. "In just a few weeks, I’m excited to support this team and cheer them on with the rest of our country."
Hayes praised Morgan's contributions to the national team and her illustrious career in a press conference, but said the team must now go in another direction. He acknowledged the roster for Paris will have fewer experienced players than in previous tournaments, but the focus will be on development.
"It's not ceremonial for any team in the world to win an Olympic gold medal, and there's no denying that this program has a very successful history. But the reality is it's going to take a lot of hard work to get to that top level again," Hayes said. "I think given the team's cap accumulation, there's been a lack of development to put players -- some of the less experienced players -- in a position where they can develop that experience. And I think it's important that we do that to take the next step.
"I'm done looking back. We're moving forward with the players who have put the World Cup behind us. And we are very much looking forward to carrying on the work after the World Cup. For us, this is an opportunity to show that those learnings will take us much further than last time, but there are no guarantees of anything in life."
The team includes goalkeepers Casey Murphy and Alyssa Neher, defenders Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Kruger, Jenna Niswonger and Emily Sonnett, midfielders Corbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Katrina Macario, and forwards Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jadyn Shaw, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson.
The four alternates are goalkeeper Jen Campbell, midfielders Hal Hershfeldt and Croix Bethune and forward Lynn Williams.
"This is a balanced roster. I've considered all the factors we'll need during the Olympics and (it's) one I'm really happy with," Hayes said.
Hayes considered durability and adaptability to be key elements of the roster. Many of the players selected can play multiple positions, which will be important given the relatively short time gaps between matches in France.
"It's really impressive to see 16 outfield players participating in such a rigorous schedule of games in a period of just 17 days," he said. "It's important to have a roster that can adapt. You have a tight turnaround between games, so, of course, having players on the roster who can play more than one position makes sense for the depth of the team."
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