Morgan, who will turn 35 in July, appeared on three U.S. Olympic teams, including the 2012 gold medal squad. She also helped lead the U.S. in four World Cups, twice winning that tournament. In more than 220 appearances for the U.S. women's national team, Morgan scored 123 goals, the fifth most in team history, along with 53 assists.
"Today, I'm disappointed not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage," Morgan wrote in a statement on the social media site X. "In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country."
Today, I’m disappointed 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… pic.twitter.com/NAXmQnNN8B
In a press conference Wednesday, national team coach Emma Hayes praised Morgan as "an amazing player and human" and said that winnowing the roster to 18 players was "not easy."
"It was a tough decision, of course, especially considering Alex's history and record with this team. But I felt that I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players," Hayes said.
The U.S. women's national team is looking to turn a new page after disappointing results in international tournaments in recent years.
In the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the team settled for bronze after a disappointing defeat to Canada in the semifinals. Then, last year, the team suffered its by far its earliest elimination ever in a World Cup when it lost in a penalty shootout to Sweden in the Round of 16.
The U.S. is now fifth in FIFA's international rankings, its lowest spot ever since FIFA began ranking women's teams more than two decades ago.
