After a successful debut as head coach, Emma Hayes finally released the USWNT Olympic roster. While fans understood that cutting such a talented squad down to 18 players meant that there would be some snubs, there were a few surprises. Here are the 18 players named to the squad, as well as the 4 alternates who will also travel and train with the team.
The Olympic 18 🇺🇸
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 26, 2024
Full Roster Details » https://t.co/4AYdQah9DP pic.twitter.com/tDWS9z7goe
Goalkeepers
Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher will mind the net in the tournament. Naeher, a longtime member of the team with 104 caps, will likely be the starter. This will be her third Olympic tournament. Murphy has been a consistent call-up over the last few years, and she will make her Olympic debut this summer. She is a solid choice at backup, with 19 appearances for the national team under her belt.
Defenders
Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett make up the defensive corps. Davidson, Krueger, and Sonnett will be making their second Olympic appearances. Fox, Girma, and Nighswonger will make their Olympic debuts. This will also be Nighswonger’s first major international tournament.
Midfielders
Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, and Catarina Macario will represent the U.S. in the midfield this summer. Horan is the most experienced player on the squad with 148 caps. This will be her third Olympic Games. Lavelle and Macario were both on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad, making this their second Olympic Games. This will be the first Olympics and major international tournament for Albert and Coffey.
Forwards
Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith, and Mal Swanson make up the forwards on the roster. Dunn, who will play at her third Olympic Games this summer, often played as a defender under past USWNT head coaches, but finally gets to play as a forward, which is her preference. Her ability to play multiple positions well makes her a valuable asset, as she can be moved around in case of injury.
Emma Hayes understands this well, as she coached Dunn when she played for Chelsea FC in 2017 and 2018. Swanson made her Olympic debut in Rio 2016, but missed the 2020 Olympics, making this her first Olympic action in eight years. Rodman, Shaw, and Smith will make their Olympic debuts this summer. This will also be Shaw’s first major international tournament.
Alternates
The four alternates are goalkeeper Jane Campbell, midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune, and forward Lynn Williams. Campbell and Williams were originally named alternates for Tokyo 2020 as well but were moved to the main roster when the roster size was expanded due to COVID-19. Hershfelt and Bethune have yet to make an appearance for the senior national team but may have the opportunity if there is an injury.
Roster Snubs
There is a lot of excitement surrounding how many young players are being given a chance to prove themselves for the tournament, but fans were very quick to notice a key USWNT player was missing from the roster: Alex Morgan. This will be the first major tournament that Morgan has missed since her debut in 2010. Understandably, fans are sad to see her left off the roster, but part of embracing the next generation means that familiar faces will eventually be left behind. Morgan was very gracious about the decision, stating that “[she looks] forward to supporting this team and cheering them 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.
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 26, 2024
In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team… pic.twitter.com/NAXmQnNN8B
Another notable player left off the roster is Lily Yohannes, the young midfield phenomenon. The 17-year-old player is in a tricky situation, as she is eligible to represent the United States or the Netherlands. In situations like this, the player has until the age of 21 to decide who to represent, or until they play in a major international tournament, like the Olympics.
If Yohannes were to play for the USWNT in the Olympics, she would forfeit eligibility to play for the Netherlands. When asked about the decision to leave Yohannes off the roster, Hayes said that she was not ready to commit to the U.S. or the Netherlands. There is a chance that Hayes offered her a spot on the roster or as an alternate, but Yohannes turned it down.
A Controversial Addition to the Roster
Finally, there was a divisive response to the decision to include Albert on the roster. Recently, Albert disappointed fans and colleagues when she liked and shared media that contained anti-LGBTQ messages. She also liked a meme that celebrated USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe‘s injury in the NWSL championship game. Albert ultimately apologized for liking and sharing the posts but did not receive any discipline for her actions. Many current and past players including Rapinoe, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, and Sam Mewis expressed their disappointment, and fans showed their displeasure by booing her when she subbed vs. South Korea earlier this month.
When asked about the decision to include her on the roster, Hayes implored fans to “embrace” Albert:
FULL QUOTE: #USWNT Emma Hayes on Korbin Albert's selection
— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6) June 26, 2024
q:@itsmeglinehan pic.twitter.com/dCa1n32l7b
However, acceptance is a two-way street. Also, there is no public indication of what “work” Hayes says Albert has been doing in the background. Until there are more details about how Albert has been rectifying her actions, the fanbase will likely remain divided.
What do you think of the Olympic roster? Let me know in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter and check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more sporting news.
