Alex Morgan left off U.S. Olympic women's soccer roster

For the first time since 2008, a United States Olympic women’s soccer team will not have Alex Morgan on the roster.

Morgan, a forward with San Diego Wave FC, was not one of the five forwards selected for the upcoming Paris Olympics nor was she one of the four alternates. She played in the 2012, 2016 and 2021 Olympics, winning gold in 2012 in London.

Morgan, 34, has yet to score in NWSL play with San Diego this season. She was slowed by an ankle injury that has limited her to just eight games.

Morgan posted a message on social media, saying she’s disappointed to miss out on the upcoming Games:

“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. In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country. LFG.”

Morgan’s 224 caps and 123 goals are each the most among active U.S. players and rank ninth and fifth, respectively, in program history.

Forwards Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson were selected to the roster.

“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,” USWNT coach Emma Hayes said in a statement. “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.”

Eight players remain from the 2020 Olympic team and 10 from the last World Cup. The 18-player roster has an average age of 26.8, the fourth-youngest roster for the USWNT heading in the Olympics.

Hayes formally assumed her USWNT coaching role late last month after accepting the job in November. The Americans are looking to bounce back from their worst finish in a major tournament after exiting the 2023 World Cup in the Round of 16.

The USWNT will play a pair of send-off games – July 13 against Mexico at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and three days later against Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

The Americans open Olympic play on July 25 against Zambia, followed by group matches against Germany and Australia.

The U.S. has won a medal in all but one of the seven Olympics that have featured women’s soccer, including four gold medals. The Americans won three straight gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

They earned the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

USWNT roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (6): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)

Alternates: goalkeeper Jane Campbell; midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune; forward Lynn Williams.