US national team forward Alex Morgan was left out of coach Emma Hayes’ squad for the Paris Olympics.
Morgan, a four-time Olympic veteran, was the most notable absence from the 18-player roster Hayes announced Wednesday.
Morgan, 34, missed more than a month with the San Diego Wave after injuring her left ankle on April 19, but has since returned. She was also named to the squad Hayes assembled earlier this month for a pair of U.S. friendlies against South Korea.
Morgan, who has scored 123 goals in 224 appearances for the national team, missed the final Wave match last weekend due to an excused absence.
The Olympic squad is smaller than the 23 players included in teams for the Women’s World Cup and other competitions. Hayes only watched the games against South Korea with the team in person after arriving in the United States from Chelsea.
“Making an Olympic squad is a huge privilege and honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process between the players and there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the last ten months Hayes said. in a statement.
Versatile veteran Crystal Dunn, who has played as a defender in recent years, was included as a forward, along with Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was included in the squad despite a recent thigh injury that kept her out of the team’s last two games. Naeher recently returned to play for her NWSL team, the Chicago Red Stars.
Hayes also selected goalkeeper Casey Murphy, while Jane Campbell was among the team’s four alternates, with midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune, and forward Lynn Williams.
Hayes, who was named U.S. coach last November, has been in Europe to complete her final season as coach of Chelsea, who won their fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
Former coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned from the US team after last year’s disappointing finish at the Women’s World Cup. Twila Kilgore led the team in the meantime while awaiting Hayes’ return, and now serves as an assistant coach.
Ten players who were on the World Cup roster were included in the Olympic team. The US has won four Olympic gold medals, more than any other team.
The team will play a few tune-up games before heading to France. They play Mexico on July 13 at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, and then against Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington on July 16.
The US opens its Olympic campaign against Zambia on July 25 in Nice.
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US Olympic team
Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy, North Carolina Courage; Alyssa Naeher, Chicago Red Stars
Defenders: Tierna Davidson, NJ/NY Gotham; Emily Fox, Armory; Naomi Girma, San Diego Wave; Casey Krueger, Washington Ghost; Jenna Nighswonger NJ/NY Gotham; Emily Sonnett, NJ/NY Gotham
Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Paris Saint-Germain; Sam Coffey, Portland Thorns; Lindsey Horan, Lyons; Rose Lavelle, NJ/NY Gotham; Catarina Macario, Chelsea
Forwards: Crystal Dunn, NJ/NY Gotham; Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit; Jaedyn Shaw, San Diego Wave; Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns; Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars
Alternates: Jane Campbell, goalkeeper, Houston Dash; Hal Hershfelt, midfielder, Washington Spirit; Croix Bethune, midfielder, Washington Spirit; Lynn
Williams, forward, NJ/NY Gotham FC