What was the 'real reason' for Alex Morgan's 2024 Olympics snub? USWNT legend Christen Press calls for answers from Emma Hayes after 'media-trained' explanation

Press was speaking to friend and former team-mate Tobin Heath on The RE-CAP Show as they fielded questions from fans. One such topic asked for their take on Morgan's omission from the Olympic team by new USWNT coach Hayes. Press said she wanted more by way of a reason for dropping Morgan.

Hayes opted not to select Morgan for the 18-player roster, preferring predominantly younger names. She picked only three outfield players aged 30 or over, which is slightly unusual for the United States when experience is typically very prominent at tournaments. What has worked against Morgan is failing to score in the NWSL for club team San Diego Wave so far in 2024. Press' issue is Hayes speaking about the players she has picked, rather than explicitly giving a reason for Morgan not going.

Press said: "My first reaction was it was a little sad because it did feel like the end of an era, where Alex represented this entire movement that our generation was a part of. Usually, in tournaments that I've been in, there has been a very veteran player – maybe even older than Alex at 35.

"From a footballing standpoint I think I really wanted a clear reason why. We talked about this, and maybe we got one, but I think Emma gave like the most media-trained answer ever.

"She just kept saying, 'Well, I picked other players and other players are awesome,' and it’s like, that's true, but why did you not select her? I wanted to hear why. And if the reason was form, like, 'My other players are scoring and Alex is not,' then that's the reason.

"So I felt like we just kind of got left hanging and we can all just assume it's because of club form, she's been hanging onto injury, or maybe that [Hayes] didn't value having someone on the roster that had won [the Olympics] before as much as she valued someone that she really felt like she could sub in and make a difference in a game. But I was just left being like, 'Well what did that phone call sound like? What was the real reason?'"

The USWNT face final pre-Olympic warm-ups on home turf against Mexico and Costa Rica respectively, before travelling to France. The tough Olympic group stage begins for them on July 25 against Zambia, before then facing Germany and Australia. For Morgan, she will carry on playing fro San Diego Wave, whose next game is a visit from Bay FC on July 20.