Emma Hayes has named her first major tournament squad. With only 18 players allowed for the Olympic squad, the margins to be called up for Paris were slim, and Hayes’ selections sent a clear message.
This is a USWNT roster that fully embraces an emerging generation of talent. No veteran star was too honored to be cut. Building on a months-long transition coordinated with assistant coach Twila Kilgore, Hayes put together a squad that balances leadership and youth. Gaining experience for that youth has been a priority for Hayes since she was named the new coach. She worked with Kilgore, who served as interim head coach before Hayes resigned, on the London squad selection and emphasized that she would bring new faces into the squad for the Concacaf W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup.
“One of the biggest things for me since I got the job was wanting to provide opportunities for less experienced players,” Hayes said Wednesday. “The number of players who have not played more than 30 caps was really noticeable to me. So the last eight months have been all about providing experiences to bridge that gap, because there is a link between caps played and success at international tournaments.”
With an average age of 26.8, this is the youngest team the USWNT has sent to the Olympic Games since 2008. It is their fourth youngest Olympic team of all time. By comparison, the bronze medal-winning team from Tokyo had an average age of 30. The average number of international matches per player in this team (58) is approximately half that of the Tokyo selection (111). The youngest player on the team is 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who is named the fifth-youngest player ever on a USWNT Olympic roster.
Yet there is plenty of experience in the ranks, including talented young players who will play their first World Cup in 2023: Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma and Emily Fox, among others.
Some old veterans have also kept their places. Four have 100 appearances or more: Lindsey Horan (148), Crystal Dunn (147), Alyssa Naeher (104) and Rose Lavelle (100). Horan and Dunn have both played in ten Olympic games. Horan, Dunn and Naeher will soon be three-time Olympians. But there is one notable exclusion.
For the first time since 2008, the USWNT will go to a major tournament without Alex Morgan. “First of all, I want to talk about what a great player and person Alex Morgan has been,” Hayes said. “I only had the chance to work with her once in the last camp. I saw not only her qualities, but also her professionalism with my own eyes. Her track record speaks for itself. It is not easy to decide that there are only sixteen field players and two goalkeepers on a selection of eighteen.”
Since her debut in 2010, Morgan has produced 123 goals and 53 assists in 224 games for the USA. But after a dismal World Cup in which she failed to score, it seemed likely that Morgan would be ousted six months ago. But after a late call-up to replace the injured Mia Fishel, Morgan reaffirmed himself as leader and starting striker in the Concacaf W Gold Cup.
However, the competition for the front position is fierce. Rodman, Smith, Shaw, Mal Swanson and Crystal Dunn make up a formidable cast of names. Other forwards, such as Smith or Cat Macario, can also act as strikers. Additionally, Morgan’s club form with the San Diego Wave has been declining. Given the small number of places, it was always likely that Morgan would become a victim. But with new talent coming in, missing this summer could mean the end of the 34-year-old’s international career.
Yet the most controversial decision in Hayes’ roster – with fans, anyway – is the inclusion of 20-year-old PSG midfielder Korbin Albert, who this year apologized for social media activity deemed critical of LGBTQ community, and celebrating Megan Rapinoe’s career-ending injury. When she was immersed in the crowds in Georgia and Ohio soon after, she did so to mixed boos.
“Korbin is making the team on merit in terms of what she can offer us in the midfield positions. I think she showed in the Gold Cup that she can play many matches in quick succession. There is no denying that a lot of work went into the background to work with Korbin,” said Hayes. And as I’ve said a few times, I think it’s really important that everyone on this team understands the importance of not only being tolerant and respectful and understanding the things that matter to all of us, that Korbin did. had to learn. My experiences with her have been [that] she is a young person who has fully understood the implications of her social media activities…I can say firsthand that having spent a limited time with Korbin, she is a truly kind person and someone who really gets the most important things appreciates.
Albert’s inclusion is unlikely to cause friction in the squad: she has already been included in the team since her comments on social media, and fiercely competitive players will put aside any personal differences – at least during a tournament – to win. The most likely dissent will come from parts of the USWNT’s fanbase, and there has already been backlash on social media.
Elsewhere, positional flexibility has been prioritized over specialists. This is important in a short competition with tight lead times. It also lends itself to switching tactics between games, something Hayes hinted she might rely on in France. One of the five attackers, Dunn, is a remarkable talent who can position himself anywhere on the pitch. For years, Dunn was deployed as a left back for the national team, although for a long time she preferred to be further up the pitch. In Hayes’ second game in charge, she started Dunn at forward. It took her 13 minutes to score.
“I think the biggest factor is that we have 16 outfield players who play a lot of games,” Hayes said. “So having a squad that can adapt is key. Having players on the squad that you know can play more than one position was important for the depth of the squad.”
Other notable exclusions include 17-year-old Lily Yohannes, who became the third-youngest goalscorer in USWNT history when she scored 10 minutes into her debut in June. The Virginia-born midfielder made waves at Ajax this season and is also eligible to play for the Netherlands. According to Hayes, Yohannes has not yet made a decision on who will represent her at international level. “Lily was a consideration for this selection,” Hayes said. “But yes, at this point Lily has not made a decision about her future, and I support that.”
The hurdle of naming the squad has been cleared, but there are other challenges ahead. One is simply hoping everyone stays healthy. In the event of an injury, four alternates have been named: Lynn Williams, Jane Campbell, Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune. As with the core team, there is plenty of experience and new talent, typical of Hayes’ broader approach. All four will travel with the team to France.
Expectations in Paris will, as always, be high. Hayes has had little time to work with her squad, but she is built to win gold this summer ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
