San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan, the most recognizable women’s soccer player in the United States, has been left off her country’s Olympic team.
U.S. Soccer announced its roster for next month’s Olympic Games on Wednesday morning. Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw and defender Noami Girma both made the 18-player United States roster. Both will make their Olympic debuts next month.
The United States will open Group B play on July 25. The team will play in both Marseille and Nice.
“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 release.
“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 . These are great opportunities for us to continue to show the progress we are making.”
The 34-year-old Morgan has played in every major international tournament since 2009, but has struggled with injury and inconsistency of late. She has yet to score this season for a San Diego Wave club that fired coach Casey Stoney on Monday. Morgan missed a month of the National Women’s Soccer League season with a left ankle injury, and — in what was called an excused absence — was not present for Saturday’s tie with Houston.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Morgan wrote that she was “disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage” and said she looked forward to cheering the team on “alongside the rest of our country.”
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 ing this team… pic.twitter.com/NAXmQnNN8B
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 26, 2024
Though Wednesday’s news made international headlines, there were signs Morgan might not make the Olympic team.
Morgan was left off the United States’ Concacaf W Gold Cup roster in the winter, but was added back when forward Mia Fishel — a Patrick Henry High School grad — suffered a knee injury during a February practice. Morgan wore Fishel’s No. 7 jersey instead of her No. 13 throughout the tournament; her goal in a 5-0 W Gold Cup opener against the Dominican Republic snapped a 10-match scoring drought.
The United States will carry five forwards: Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Shaw.
Shaw, who at 19 is the youngest player on the USWNT roster, is just nine months removed from making her debut on the U.S. senior team. She has scored seven goals and logged an assist in 14 appearances with the United States. Her five goals in international play this year are tops among American players. She was named the best player at this year’s Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Girma, 24, is the reigning U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year and the first defender to win the honor in 39 years. Girma played for the Americans in last year’s Women’s World Cup, and Team USA allowed just one goal and two shots in four matches. Her showing in March’s W Gold Cup final against Brazil further cemented her place on the national team.
All three players are expected to be on hand Friday night, when the Wave (3-5-6) host the Chicago Red Stars at Snapdragon Stadium. The match kicks off at 7 p.m.
2024 United States Olympic roster
Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Midfielders: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG)
Forwards: 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, midfielder Hal Hershfelt, midfielder Croix Bethune and forward Lynn Williams
