Alex Morgan Left Off USWNT Roster for Paris Olympics
Alex Morgan, the USWNT’s active leading goal scorer and fifth on its all-time list, was left off Emma Hayes’ 18-player roster for the Paris Olympics. NWSL scoring leader Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Shaw, Trinity Rodman, and Crystal Dunn are listed as the forwards.
"The biggest factor is that we can have only 16 outfield players," Hayes said after the roster was released on Wednesday. "To play a lot of games, arguably, I hope over 17 days, having a roster that could adapt is essential. Having players on the roster who could play more than one position mattered with squad depth.
"I also think the players on the roster, in the forward areas, are performing well. The decision to take those players was one that we certainly deliberated over."
The other players on the roster are goalkeepers Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher; defenders Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett; and midfielders Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, and Catarina Macario.
Emma Hayes bypassed Alex Morgan as an alternate, choosing Lynn Williams instead. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell and midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune are the other alternates traveling with the USWNT to France.
During a news conference after the roster was announced, Hayes praised Alex Morgan's skills and professionalism but explained her decision: "It was not easy making a decision. There are 16 outfield players and two goalkeepers on a roster of 18. It was a tough decision, especially considering Alex’s record and history with this team. I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players."
Morgan's exclusion is surprising given her long-standing role as a key player on the USWNT and her recent accolades, including being named to FIFPro's World 11 for the third consecutive year. However, at 35 years old, she has had a slow start to the NWSL season, dealing with injuries and a goal drought. Hayes emphasized the need for versatility in such a small roster, where players like Crystal Dunn and Catarina Macario can play multiple positions effectively.
Hayes recently took over as the USWNT’s coach and has been guiding a team in transition, focusing on developing younger players to bridge the gap in international experience. This Olympic roster is notably young, with an average age of 26.8 years, the youngest since the 2008 gold-medal winning team.
"The last eight months have been about giving experiences to bridge that gap because there is a correlation between caps and success at international tournaments," Hayes remarked, highlighting the team's strategic development approach.
