Alex Morgan left off US women’s soccer team roster for Paris Olympics as team changing of the guard

Alex Morgan left off US women’s soccer team roster for Paris Olympics as team undergoes a changing of the guard
US women's soccer legend Alex Morgan will not be part of the team’s roster for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, symbolizing a significant transition within the women's national team. The announcement came on Wednesday from head coach Emma Hayes, who is preparing for her first major tournament with the squad.
The 22-player roster, which includes 18 players for the Olympics and four alternates, reflects a blend of familiar faces and new talent. Only eight players from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and ten members of the 2023 World Cup team made the cut. This mix signals a shift as the team looks to rebuild and rejuvenate.
Morgan’s exclusion from the roster marks the end of an era for a player who has been pivotal to the team's success over the years. The national team, known for its dominance, had experienced recent setbacks, finishing third in the Tokyo Games and exiting the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout. The disappointing World Cup performance led to the hiring of Hayes, who is tasked with steering the next generation towards continued success.
Morgan expressed her disappointment but pledged her support for the team. "Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage. This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart, and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest," she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country."
During a news conference, Hayes acknowledged Morgan's contributions and illustrious career but emphasized the need for the team to evolve. "There’s no rite of passage for any team in the world to just win an Olympic gold medal, and there’s no denying the history of this program has been hugely successful. But the reality is it’s going to take a lot of work to get to that top level again," Hayes said. She highlighted the importance of developing less experienced players to ensure the team’s long-term success.
"I’m not looking backwards; we have to look forward with a group of players that have put that World Cup behind them. We’re very much looking forward to building on the work post-World Cup. For us, this is an opportunity to show those learnings will take us much further than it did last time, but there is no guarantee in anything in life."
The roster for Paris includes goalkeepers Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher; defenders Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett; midfielders Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, and Catarina Macario; and forwards Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson. The four alternates are goalkeeper Jane Campbell, midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune, and forward Lynn Williams.
Hayes described the roster as balanced and versatile, a crucial factor given the intense schedule of the Olympics. "It’s a balanced roster. I’ve considered all the factors that we’re gonna need throughout the Olympics, and it’s one that I’m really happy with," she said.
Durability and adaptability were key considerations in Hayes' selection process. Many of the chosen players can play multiple positions, which will be essential due to the quick turnaround between matches. "The biggest factor is the 16 outfield players to play a lot of games - arguably, I hope - over a 17-day period," Hayes explained. "Having a roster that could adapt is essential. You have a tight turnaround between games, so having players on the roster who can play more than one position mattered with squad depth.

[@DerekLangdon]

Never mind, at the age of 35 the old girl has had a good run! …She can now sit back and become a football pundit!

[@WarmasterSidious]

The US has decided it doesn’t want to perform well at all on football ever again apparently

[@ocsasha]

That what they said during 1991 fifa woman world cup. The USA coach cut a lot of veteran players to develop the team. He was criticized a lot for it. They won. The coach was right.