With the announcement of the US Women’s National Soccer Team’s roster for the 2024 Olympics, head coach Emma Hayes is bringing a fresh perspective and prioritizing versatility, while leaving home one veteran player.

Alex Morgan, the 34-year-old forward from San Diego Wave, will not be joining Team USA at the Paris Games.

“Today I am disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” said Morgan in a social media post. “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 a Zoom press conference Wednesday following the roster release, Hayes praised Morgan as both a person and a player, but stressed how difficult it is to choose only 16 outfield players. 

“Having a roster that could adapt is essential,” she said. “We have a tight turnaround between games, so, of course, having players on the roster that could play more than one position mattered with squad depth.

“I think it’s a balanced roster. I’ve considered all the factors that we’re going to need throughout the Olympics, and [the roster is] one that I’m happy with.”

Morgan’s exclusion wasn’t the only surprise. Midfielder Korbin Albert is set to make her Olympic debut despite backlash from fans and former players. Albert sparked controversy in March when she reposted a TikTok video of a sermon that talked about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong, according to The Athletic. 

It was also discovered that Albert had previously liked a meme celebrating former player Megan Rapinoe’s injury in her final professional match. Albert later issued an apology for her “offensive, insensitive, and hurtful” social media behavior. Despite her public apology, Albert still received boos from the crowd when she entered a friendly match against South Korea in June.

Hayes stood by her decision to include Albert in the Olympic roster despite the controversies, stating she made the team on merit and her versatility in the midfield. 

“She’s a young person who’s understood fully the implications of her social media activity,” said Hayes, “She’s spending time working on herself, as we all do…I do think she’s a tremendous human being.”

While the final roster is not exactly what soccer fans were expecting, there are a number of star players who should help carry Team USA far. 

Nine out of the 18 players have previously competed in the 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,” said Hayes. “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.”

The USWNT will practice together for the first time on July 8 in New Jersey then face Mexico on July 13 at Red Bull Arena. On July 16, the USWNT will play Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. 

At the Games, the USWNT will open Group B play July 25 against Zambia, then play Germany July 28 before rounding out group play July 31 against Australia.

–June 29, 2024–