US coach Emma Hayes has left Alex Morgan out of the USWNT squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
US Soccer announced its 18-woman roster on Wednesday. There were no stunning inclusions. But Morgan was a somewhat surprising exclusion.
Hayes, who formally took charge of the USWNT last month, chose both Casey Krueger, a defenseman, and Crystal Dunn, an all-in-one player, over Morgan, who would have served as a backup striker in a change of pace. pace.
USWNT Olympic Games 2024 roster
Goalkeepers (2): Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (6): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
Midfielders (5): Korbin Albert (PSG), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea)
Forward (5): Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Alternatives: Jane Campbell (GK), Hal Hershfelt (M), Croix Bethune (M), Lynn Williams (F)
Alex Morgan’s exclusion
Despite that change of pace, Morgan still offered value. As a goal attacker who connects with teammates, and as a defender up front, she has no parallel in the US player pool. She was also the only Olympic gold medal player seriously considered for this selection; the remainder of the 2012 USWNT team is retired or phased out.
But her goal-scoring ability – a forward’s most valuable attribute – has dried up. She stayed behind with a 23 players selection last winter for a reason. She was eventually called up to that squad for the W Gold Cup as a replacement for the injured Mia Fishel; but for the Olympics the limit of 18 players proved too restrictive.
Including the 34-year-old Morgan would have left this USWNT roster unbalanced, with seven players only able to fill the top four positions on the field, at the expense of depth in defensive positions. And the other six forwards are simply better at this stage in their respective careers. Mallory Swanson was a certainty to make the roster and start in France this summer. Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw were obvious additions.
Catarina Macario is also there – as a midfielder who can also play as a striker. Hayes clearly likes Macario, who she signed while still coaching Chelsea in England.
Hayes also included Dunn, who has spent most of her USWNT career as a fullback, but can play anywhere in midfield or as a winger.
Versatility is especially valuable at the Olympics. The 18 players can only be permanently replaced by substitutes in the event of an injury. Dunn, while listed as a forward, essentially gives the USWNT depth at seven different positions. Emily Sonnett will similarly serve as a backup centre-back, backup full-back and backup defensive midfielder. Krueger can play at wing-back, or even as a centre-back in a line of three.
Morgan, on the other hand, can only play one position – a position that Smith, Swanson and Macario are generally better at playing.
And so the USWNT goes to a major tournament without her for the first time since 2008.
“I am disappointed that I did not have the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” Morgan said in a statement on social media. “This will always be a tournament close to my heart and I am immensely proud to don the crest. In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on, along with the rest of our country.”
Hayes said in media availability Wednesday that it was a “tough decision” but confirmed she prioritized versatility in making the choice. Hayes also pointed to longevity as a factor: If all goes according to plan, the USWNT will play six matches in a two-week period, meaning players on the roster will need to recover quickly after each match.
“Having a squad that can adapt is essential,” Hayes said, noting the “tight turnaround” between matches – about three days on average.
While Hayes didn’t explicitly call Morgan “old,” the implication is there: the 34-year-old forward’s speed isn’t the same as it used to be, and if there was any doubt about her ability to bounce back, Hayes felt she had to to give a place to someone else.
Other notable selection decisions by Hayes
With a notable lack of veterans like Morgan, Hayes has once again fielded a relatively inexperienced squad, but said during media availability that the gap between the most capped players and the rest was something she hoped to change.
“One of the biggest things for me since I got the job was wanting to provide opportunities for less experienced players,” Hayes said. “The number of players who haven’t played more than 30 caps was really noticeable to me. So the last eight months have been about giving experiences to bridge that gap, because there is a correlation between caps and caps played and success in international tournaments.”
11 of the 18 players on this Olympic squad have fewer than 50 caps; only four (Alyssa Naeher, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Crystal Dunn) have more than 100, with Emily Sonnett and Mallory Swanson close behind at 91 and 92, respectively.
Perhaps the most notable exclusion besides Morgan was Lily Yohannes, the 17-year-old midfielder who made waves with her passing and a goal on her debut earlier this month.
But Yohannes was always a gamble. She has only played 20 minutes for the USWNT. Hayes likely felt comfortable with the depth Dunn and Sonnett provided. She also apparently felt comfortable with Korbin Albert — despite the transphobic social media activity that continues to follow Albert, and will continue to follow her until she speaks out about it publicly.
Hayes spoke at length about Albert during the media availability, noting that the 20-year-old was on the roster “on merit” as a midfielder, but that there have been conversations about her off-field behavior with a tendency toward self-improvement.
“I think she had a really hard time,” Hayes said. “She is a young person who has to deal with a lot of criticism, rightly so, and a lot of, how should I put it… she can hear the noise in the stadium. That has affected her. But I can say firsthand that , that she has spent little time with Korbin, that she is a really nice person and someone who really appreciates the most important things, and that she spends time on herself, as we all do, and I look forward to working with her on that to continue building.
“I want everyone to know that it’s my job to make sure I continue to do that. And I want the fans to really embrace Korbin, because I think she’s a great person,” Hayes added.
Hayes also confirmed that Yohannes is not an alternate because she has not fully committed to representing the U.S. internationally. She could also be eligible to represent the Netherlands, and has not yet made a decision between the two.
“She is a young player who really enjoyed her time with us during the last camp. But it is an important decision, and one that I support,” Hayes said. “One thing I want is for every player who is part of this squad to be aware of all the obligations and opportunities that come with it. But that time is not now for Lily.”
More broadly, the biggest question mark of the squad is at center back. Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson are the starters. There is only one other player under 18 and substitutes – Sonnett – who has any experience in the position. It is unclear what Hayes’ backup plan would be in case of injuries or yellow card suspensions.
