Alex Morgan, who won two World Cups and an Olympic gold medal as an iconic member of the U.S. women’s soccer team dynasty, was left off the Paris Olympics roster announced Wednesday.
“It was a tough decision, of course, especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team,” coach Emma Hayes said, per The Washington Post. “But I felt I wanted to go in another direction.”
Morgan, who will turn 35 on July 2, has seen her goal-scoring wane recently. Her omission from the team signals a continuing evolution for U.S. soccer following the retirement of Megan Rapinoe.
“I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” Morgan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “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 co-captained the 2023 World Cup squad that lost in the round of 16 and she did not score in the tournament. USA Today noted that she has yet to score during the National Women’s Soccer League season for the San Diego Wave FC as she continues her comeback from an ankle injury. That’s an unsettling trend for a player who ranks fifth on the U.S. team scoring list with 123 goals.
The U.S. team currently is ranked fifth in the world. It won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
