Alex Morgan, Korbin Albert, Catarina Macario: Winners and Losers of the USWNT's Olympic squad reveal

They're back!

Well, they've both been back for a few months, but this makes it all feel real. After missing out on the World Cup through injury, both Macario and Swanson are part of the Olympic team.

Macario is a player unlike any other in this USWNT pool. She's totally unique. Her ability to create can change games, and that's something that the USWNT lacked during the World Cup. The Chelsea star was out for a while with an ACL tear but Hayes, her now-former coach on the club level, has got an up-close look at just how ready Macario is to contribute.

"I know the U.S. fans haven't seen as much as I have in recent months, but I've seen a player that's got unbelievable game intelligence," Hayes said. "I'd say her best position is a 10, but she can play as a nine. That's another factor I had to consider.

"In terms of what she can bring the team, she's cheeky. She always tries to get away with a fair few things. I think she's someone who people don't realize how hard she's had to work in the background getting herself ready for this level. She's put some real hard yards in to getting back to the levels that I think everybody knows she's capable of."

As for Swanson, similar sentiment. She is a dynamic, direct winger who can change games, which is something the U.S. was lacking last summer. She hasn't eased back into things, either, as she's been scoring plenty of goals for club and country since making her return.

"Mallory is a world-class player," Hayes said. "That was evident for me coming into camp. She's maturing into an experienced, well-rounded international player. I think her best is yet to come and I'm excited for her in regards to that.

"She's someone that's really clever with their movement, but she's also very intelligent when she picks balls up in the pocket. She has quite a natural telepathy when she plays with Sophia Smith, in the way that they feel spaces around each other. She's a goal threat."

The obvious one on this list, so we'll get it out of the way.

This was Hayes' big call, the one that would be the most discussed aspect of this roster either way. Whether she went to the Olympics or not, Morgan was always going to be the talking point, which is what happens when your most recognizable player is firmly on the bubble.

Unfortunately for Morgan, that bubble popped on Wednesday. There will be no fourth Olympic run for the legendary striker, who was left out of the squad.

The decision, by and large, is logical. The U.S. is overloaded with young, attacking talent. They're all versatile, too. If this was a 23-player roster, Morgan probably makes the cut but, when having to choose just 18 - and 16 on the field at that - the ability to do different things matters. And, at her age, Morgan is simply a No. 9, which didn't help her case.

"It's not easy making a decision that is only 16 outfield players and two goalkeepers on a roster of 18," Hayes said. "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 selected on the players."

It's unfortunate for Morgan, who certainly deserves a legendary send-off. It'll come at some point, but not on the big stage that is the Olympics as the U.S., probably correctly, went with the younger options.

While Morgan won't get one final tournament, Naeher has her chance to ride off into the soccer sunset this summer.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper became the USWNT's No. 1 shortly after the 2016 Olympics and, now in 2024, she remains in the fold. There were questions about that for a while but, in the end, Naeher is in the squad, joining Casey Murphy as the two goalkeepers selected in Hayes' team.

She's had some ups and downs this year, but Naeher still has a legitimate case to start. Her experience is so, so valuable, as are her penalty shootout heroics. Who knows if this will come into play, but the U.S. will head into this tournament knowing they have a reliable veteran presence in goal. Naeher, meanwhile, will know this is her last real chance at glory in a USWNT shirt before this program moves in a new direction.

One more look at a veteran that didn't quite make it.

Like Morgan and Naeher, Sauerbrunn has been through it all with this USWNT. She's been a champion numerous times having asserted herself as the defensive rock this team needed for years. That time has passed, though.

At centerback, Hayes went with Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett, all of whom have plenty of USWNT experience. Girma, the least experienced, is the best of the bunch and one of the first names on the team sheet. Her partner remains a question but, unfortunately for Sauerbrunn, she wasn't the answer Hayes went with.

Sauerbrunn, too, deserves a nice send-off and it'll come down the line for a player who has given everything to this USWNT program.

There was no doubt that Nighswonger was going to the Olympics. There was very little doubt that she'd be going as a starter. However, this squad all but confirmed it: Nighswonger is the go-to left-back.

Crystal Dunn has once again been listed as a forward, signifying that she's finally moved on from her left-back spot. That leaves it for Nighswonger, who has simply gotten better and better each USWNT camp.

It's been a whirlwind year for the Gotham FC defender, who is the more overshadowed player in this post-2023 World Cup generation. She's earned her spot, though, and will now get her opportunity to shine on the Olympic stage.

It wasn't a surprise to see the Ajax starlet excluded from the squad. She's still a teenager, after all, one with a bright future that will extend long past this Olympics. Yohannes was so close, though, and Hayes made it seem that Yohannes herself made the decision.

The teenager is still eligible to play for the Netherlands and, even with an Olympic spot up for grabs, she wasn't quite ready to commit to the USWNT. Would she have made the squad if she was? Only Hayes an Yohannes know for sure, but it seems like there was very real chance she could have been included this summer.

"Lily was a consideration for this roster, but at this moment, Lily hasn't made a decision about her future and I support that," Hayes said. "I'm sure everybody can appreciate that she's a young player. We really, really enjoyed our time with her at the last camp, but it's an important decision and one that I support.

"The one thing I want is for every player that's part of this roster, that they're conscious of all the commitments and opportunities that come with that, but that moment isn't now with Lily. Of course, she was in consideration but I will continue to work with Lily beyond the Olympics and I hope she will be part of our future."

We'll make things clear: Yohannes isn't the "loser" here. She's a young player making a very tough decision. Still, it would have been great to see her on the Olympic stage, although, for a player with her potential, it seems like there will be plenty of those moments down the line.

A few short months ago, Albert's international career looked under threat. It was a mistake of her own doing, and it wasn't fully clear how she'd overcome it or how long it would take to do so.

Albert, though, has clearly done the right things behind the scenes to atone. She wouldn't be on this roster otherwise.

Hayes was quick to praise Albert, both as a player and person, on her call with reporters on Wednesday. Whatever Albert has done behind the scenes has been enough to convince Hayes that she can be a valuable member of this team, on and off the field.

“First of all, we know Korbin making the team is on merit in terms of what she offers for us in the midfield positions,” the coach said. “I think she’s demonstrated in the Gold Cup that she can play a lot of games in quick succession. She’s got the ability to play all three midfield positions, though probably a No. 8 is her best position.”

Hayes went onto add that she thinks Albert has struggled since everything emerged. She's heard the noise and the boos and, as a young player, it's impacted her. The hope is that everyone can move on and focus on the Olympics, where Albert will play a role

“She has been a delight to coach,” Hayes said. “I think she’s had a really, really tough time. She’s really struggled. And I think some of that has shown in her performances. She’s a young person having to deal with a lot of criticism — rightfully so. She can hear the noise in the stadium and that’s affected her

“I can say first-hand that having spent limited time with Korbin, she really is a lovely person and someone who really values the most important things, and that she’s spending time working on herself as we all do. I look forward to building on that with her, and I want everybody to know that my job is to make sure I keep doing that. I want the fans to really embrace Korbin because I think she’s a tremendous human being.”