Alex Morgan 'Disappointed' After Not Being Named to USWNT Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics

For the first time since 2008, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will be taking the field at a major tournament without star forward Alex Morgan.

Morgan, 34, was left off the USWNT roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics when new coach Emma Hayes announced the squad on Wednesday morning.

Morgan has been on every USWNT roster at a major tournament since she debuted with the team in 2010, helping lead the Americans to two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019 and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. The four-time CONCACAF Player of the Year also led the USWNT to a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics and helped the team capture six SheBelieves Cup championships throughout her career.

The California native’s 224 international appearances and 123 goals for the USWNT are the most among active players.

"Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage," Morgan wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest."

Morgan added: "In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country. LFG."

Hayes’ decision to leave Morgan off the USWNT roster comes after a disappointing result in the 2023 World Cup in which the U.S. team came into the tournament hoping to win their third-straight World Cup, but were instead eliminated in the Round of 16 by Sweden.

Morgan, who served as the team’s co-captain at the tournament, started all four games for the USWNT during the 2023 World Cup, but failed to score a goal and notched just one assist.

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She told Fox Sports the result was “devastating” and that “it feels like a bad dream." But after the tournament, Morgan told reporters that she’s “not planning to hang up my boots anytime soon” after longtime teammates Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz announced their retirements.

Morgan told PEOPLE last year that she’s “taking it one season at a time.”

"My body feels good, and I feel like I'm in the moment right now, so I'm not looking too far ahead,” the athlete said at the time.

The San Diego Wave FC star has 0 goals and one assist so far this season in the National Women’s Soccer League. Her team currently sits in 9th place with a 3-5-6 record for the year.

"Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months," Hayes, 47, said in a statement alongside the roster announcement.

The Paris Olympics begin on July 26, with the women’s soccer tournament officially kicking off July 25 when Team USA takes on Zambia in their group stage opener.

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“Choosing an 18-player roster plus alternates involved many considerations, but I am excited for the group we have selected and I’m looking forward to building on the work from last camp as we head into the Send-Off matches and then onto France,” Hayes added. “These are great opportunities for us to continue to show the progress we are making.”

The U.S. squad will be led by veterans Alyssa Naeher, Crystal Dunn and Lindsey Horan, who will all be competing in their third Olympic Games overall.

Players making their Olympic debuts for the USWNT include goalkeeper Casey Murphy, defenders Emily Fox, Naomi Girma and Jenna Nighswonger, midfielders Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey and forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Jaedyn Shaw.

Defenders Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett and Casey Krueger, midfielders Rose Lavelle and Catarina Macario and forward Mallory Swanson will all be appearing in their second Olympic Games.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.com and come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, beginning July 26, on NBC and Peacock.