Alex Morgan, arguably the most famous active women’s soccer player in the world, was not selected for the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team heading to Paris for this year’s Summer Olympics.
She was also left out of the group of four alternates who could potentially be called upon. This decision came as a mild surprise since she was in the starting lineup for the National Team’s last game against South Korea earlier this month.
The 34-year-old striker, currently in her third season with San Diego Wave FC, has participated in the last three Olympics. Despite her exclusion, she expressed her commitment to supporting the team as they aim to improve upon their bronze medal from the 2020 Games. The U.S. did not medal in 2016, ending a streak of three consecutive gold medals.
“Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” she said. “This tournament means a lot to me, and I always take pride in wearing the crest. I look forward to cheering on the team and supporting them in less than a month. LFG.”
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The decision to exclude her was significant for manager Emma Hayes, who was brought in late last year to help the U.S. regain its global dominance.
Hayes issued a statement regarding the Olympic roster without directly mentioning Morgan’s omission.
“Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor, and there is no denying that the selection process was very competitive and challenging, especially considering the hard work put in by all players over the past 10 months,” said Hayes. “Selecting an 18-player roster along with alternates involved many factors, but I am excited about the group we have chosen and eager to build on the progress from the last camp as we prepare for the send-off matches and then France.”
The U.S. will have a seasoned group of forwards in Paris, led by NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Crystal Dunn, who has 147 caps for the National Team. Jaedyn Shaw, Morgan’s teammate at San Diego, will be joined by Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson in the forward line.
Returning players from the 2020 Games include Dunn, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, defenders Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett, and midfielders Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle.
Unlike the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics, the women’s event features top national teams. It is the second most important international tournament in women’s soccer after the Women’s World Cup held every four years.
The U.S. leads all countries with four Olympic gold medals since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996. The U.S. team is ranked No. 5 in FIFA’s international rankings.
