Alex Morgan left out of USWNT 2023 CONCACAF W Gold Cup roster

The upcoming CONCACAF W Gold Cup will be missing veteran forward Alex Morgan, as interim coach Twila Kilgore looks to field a younger squad. Morgan, currently playing for NWSL club San Diego Wave, failed to make the cut for the second camp in a row. The 34-year-old didn't perform notably during the 2023 FIFA World Cup, not scoring in four games. The USWNT was knocked out in the last 16 by Sweden on penalties, their worst-ever finish.

Defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who plays for Portland Thorns, was also left out. The Gold Cup will take place from February 17 to March 10, with all USWNT games set to take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The USWNT will open Group A play on February 20 against the winner of the Guyana vs. Dominican Republic Preliminary Round match. The tournament will be the first matches of the 2024 Olympic year for the team.

Head coach Emma Hayes, who is set to begin her term overseeing the team during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, was not involved in the roster selection process. The USWNT roster includes 21 players who were part of the team during their most recent games in December, as well as 23 players. Among them are San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma, Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan, and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith.

The team also announced that 21 players on the Gold Cup roster were with the USWNT for their December event that featured two wins over China. Rounding out the squad is veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, along with defender Crystal Dunn, who returned to the roster following a minor injury at the end of 2022. Three non-registered players, including Mallory Swanson, will train with the squad before the tournament begins. Swanson, who suffered a serious knee injury last April, will return to U.S. training for the first time since the injury.