Emma Hayes’ decision to exclude Alex Morgan from the U.S. Women’s National Team’s (USWNT) Olympic roster has certainly drawn attention, but it may not be her most debated choice. As Hayes named her first squad for a major tournament, the constraints of an 18-player roster for the Olympics in Paris meant tough decisions had to be made. With these selections, Hayes made a bold statement about the future direction of the team.
This USWNT roster reflects a strong commitment to integrating a new wave of talent. No veteran was too established to be left out. Hayes, working closely with assistant coach Twila Kilgore, who served as interim head coach before Hayes took over, has been orchestrating a transition for several months. This collaboration aimed at balancing leadership and youth has been a priority for Hayes since her appointment. From her base in London, Hayes emphasized the importance of introducing fresh faces to the squad during the Concacaf W Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup.
“One of the biggest things for me ever since I got the job, was I want to provide opportunities for less experienced players,” Hayes remarked on Wednesday. “The volume of players that haven’t played more than 30 caps was really, really noticeable for me. So the last eight months has been about giving experiences to bridge that gap because there is a correlation between caps played and success at international tournaments.”
The squad has an average age of 26.8 years, making it the youngest USWNT Olympic team since 2008 and the fourth youngest ever. In comparison, the team that won the bronze medal in Tokyo had an average age of 30. The current squad’s average number of caps per player (58) is about half that of the Tokyo roster (111). The youngest player on the team is 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who becomes the fifth youngest player to ever be named to a USWNT Olympic roster.
Despite the youth movement, there is still a solid core of experienced players, including young talents who made their World Cup debuts in 2023 such as Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox. Veteran players like Lindsey Horan (148 caps), Crystal Dunn (147), Alyssa Naeher (104), and Rose Lavelle (100) also feature prominently. Horan, Dunn, and Naeher are set to become three-time Olympians.
However, a significant absence from the squad is Alex Morgan, who has been a mainstay of the team since her debut in 2010. Morgan’s record includes 123 goals and 53 assists in 224 appearances. Despite her remarkable career, her performance at the last World Cup, where she did not score, hinted at a possible exclusion. After being called up late to replace the injured Mia Fishel for the Concacaf W Gold Cup, Morgan reclaimed her role as a leader and starting striker, but the competition for forward positions is intense.
Hayes highlighted the challenging nature of the selection process, saying, “First off, I want to talk about what an amazing player and human Alex Morgan has been. I’ve only had one opportunity to work with her in the last camp. I saw first-hand not just her qualities, but her professionalism. Her record speaks for itself. It’s not easy making a decision that there’s only 16 outfield players and two goalkeepers on a roster of 18.”
Given the limited roster spots and the emergence of talents like Rodman, Smith, Shaw, Mal Swanson, and Crystal Dunn, Morgan’s exclusion was almost inevitable. Morgan’s recent club form with the San Diego Wave has also been in decline, making her a likely casualty in a highly competitive forward lineup. This omission could potentially mark the end of the 34-year-old’s illustrious international career.
The most controversial inclusion in Hayes’ squad, at least among fans, may be 20-year-old PSG midfielder Korbin Albert. Albert faced backlash earlier this year for social media activity that was perceived as critical of the LGBTQ community and for celebrating Megan Rapinoe’s career-ending injury. When she was subsequently subbed into matches in Georgia and Ohio, she received a mix of cheers and boos.
Addressing Albert’s inclusion, Hayes stated, “Korbin making the team is on merit in terms of what she offers for us in the midfield positions. I think she’s demonstrated in Gold Cup that she can play a lot of games in quick succession. There’s no denying there’s been a lot of work that’s been going on in the background to work with Korbin.” Hayes added, “And, as I’ve expressed on a couple of occasions, I think it’s really important that everybody in this team understands the importance of not just being tolerant and respectful and understanding the things that are going to matter to us all, that Korbin has had to learn. My experiences with her have been [that] she’s a young person who’s understood fully the implications of her social media activity … I can say, first-hand, having spent a limited time with Korbin, she really is a lovely person and someone who really values the most important things.”
While Albert’s inclusion might stir dissent among some segments of the USWNT fanbase, it’s unlikely to cause internal friction. The team has already played with Albert since her controversial comments, and in the competitive environment of a tournament, players are likely to prioritize winning over personal differences.
Hayes has also prioritized positional flexibility over specialization in her roster selection. This approach is crucial in a short tournament with tight turnaround times between games, allowing for tactical shifts as needed. One of the forwards, Dunn, is notably versatile, capable of playing almost anywhere on the pitch. Traditionally used as a left-back for the national team, Dunn prefers playing further up the field, and Hayes has recognized this by deploying her as a forward, where she has already shown her scoring prowess.
Hayes explained, “I think the biggest factor is there’s 16 outfield players to play a lot of games. So having a roster that could adapt is essential. Having players on the roster that you know could play more than one position mattered with squad depth.”
Another notable exclusion is 17-year-old Lily Yohannes, who became the third-youngest goalscorer in USWNT history with her debut goal in June. Despite her impressive season with Ajax, Yohannes, who is also eligible to play for the Netherlands, has not yet decided on her international future. Hayes acknowledged Yohannes’ potential but respects her need to make a thoughtful decision about her future.
“The hurdle of naming the roster has been crossed, but other difficulties lie ahead,” Hayes noted. The health of the squad is a primary concern, and in the event of injuries, alternates Lynn Williams, Jane Campbell, Hal Hershfelt, and Croix Bethune have been named. These alternates, like the main squad, reflect Hayes’ strategy of blending experience with fresh talent. All four alternates will travel to France with the team.
Expectations are high for the USWNT in Paris. Despite having limited time to work with her squad, Hayes has named a team built to win gold this summer, with an eye on the future, including the 2027 World Cup.
In a parallel narrative within the realm of international football, England’s Gareth Southgate and his team have found themselves with a seemingly favorable draw in the European Championship. Georgia’s unexpected victory over Portugal means England will face Slovakia in the last 16, a statistically easier opponent given Slovakia’s FIFA world ranking of 45. England, ranked fifth in the world, is one of only two top-10 teams in their half of the draw, alongside the Netherlands. The other half includes four top-10 teams: Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium.
This advantageous draw is not unfamiliar to England, who benefited from relatively straightforward paths in both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020. In each of those tournaments, England faced only one top-10 team, losing those matches to Belgium in 2018 and Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Their only other encounter with a top-10 team under Southgate’s management was against France in 2022, which also ended in defeat. England did beat Germany at Wembley during Euro 2020, though Germany was ranked 12th at the time.
The context of both the USWNT and England’s current scenarios highlights the unpredictable nature of tournament football, where strategic decisions, the emergence of new talent, and favorable draws can significantly impact outcomes.
