Why isn’t Alex Morgan on the USWNT roster for the 2024 Olympic Games?

Emma Hayes has made a big statement by leaving the two-time World Cup winner out of the US squad for the Paris Games.

New USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has dropped a bombshell by leaving iconic striker Alex Morgan off her roster for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Exactly one month before the Games get underway, Hayes has revealed her 18-player list for the tournament in Paris, which will see her take charge of the team in an official competition for the very first time.

The USWNT will take on Zambia, Germany and Australia in the opening group stage. The roster includes eight players who featured in the last Olympic in Tokyo in 2021, and 10 who were involved in the 2023 World Cup, in which the US were disappointingly eliminated in the round of 16, their worst ever performance at the tournament.

How has Alex Morgan reacted to being left of the US Olympic Games roster?

The absence of Morgan’s name from roster is the main talking point, with the San Diego Wave star wasting little time in posting her reaction to the news on social media.

“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.”

Morgan a victim of Hayes’ generational change

The 34-year-old would appear to be the most high-profile victim of the USWNT going through a generational change following their poor performance at last year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 31-year-old attacker Crystal Dunn is the oldest outfield player selected by Hayes, with 10 of the 18 members of the squad ages 25 and under.

USWNT roster for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Since making her debut for the USWNT senior team against Mexico in March 2010, Morgan has scored 123 goals in 224 international games for her country.

The California native won Olympic gold with the US at the 2012 Games in London and a bronze in the last edition in Tokyo. Additionally, she has won two FIFA Women’s World Cups, in 2015 and 2019.