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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Morgan omitted from the USWNT Gold Cup squad</li><li>Becky Sauerbrunn also ignored</li><li>Kilgore: Door not closed for duo</li></ul>

'Nobody is out of the mix' - USWNT interim boss Twila Kilgore explains bold Alex Morgan Gold Cup omission

Friendlies

England

The selection marked a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/alex-morgan-uswnt-gold-cup-roster-becky-sauerbrunn-kristie-mewis-andi-sullivan-emma-hayes-twila-kilgore/blt56ee4a214a90091d#csce4cc997be9915f0" target="_blank">moment of generational change for the USWNT </a>under incoming boss Emma Hayes, who is<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/chelsea-emma-hayes-uswnt-challenge-olympics-world-cup/blt15abbeb5a016c706" target="_blank"> set to take charge</a> after honouring her contract with Chelsea in May. However, Kilgore refused to admit that the doors for the USWNT have been slammed shut for Morgan and instead assured that the coaching staff will continue to track a pool of players in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to reporters, Kilgore said: "In terms of Alex, and I guess this goes for really everybody that's not here, everything that happens in the Gold Cup will matter in terms of the future and everything that is happening outside of the Gold Cup will matter in the future. We recognize that there are multiple players that aren't going to be in the environment that we are still looking at but are still very much so in the mix..."Of course with preseason underway, there are going to be opportunities for preseason matches for those that aren't in camp with us. If you're playing in Europe, there are opportunities there and then our league is starting pretty shortly here. We will be watching and we want to pick the best team and it's going to be very competitive.

WHAT KILGORE SAID ABOUT MORGAN'S EXCLUSION

Kilgore insisted that the team management remain committed to selecting the best 18 for the Olympics and they have named the Gold Cup roster strictly sticking to "what we feel is the right group" for now."We have quite a few players that are not in camp that we're still looking at and evaluating in terms of leading up towards the Olympics," she said."Nobody is out of the mix. That goes for some of our bigger names, that goes for lesser names that we've been tracking. We want to get it right, and everybody's still involved. This is more about that there can only be 23 people on the roster and as we head towards the Olympics, only 18. We just simply can't include everybody and this is the group that we feel is the right group for right now and who we need to look at in this tournament."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The full squad of 23 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/gGguYU6x0O">https://t.co/gGguYU6x0O</a> <a href="https://t.co/5wQiADob9l">pic.twitter.com/5wQiADob9l</a>— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1755276428193477048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The absence of key figures like Sauerbrunn, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez and others underscores Kilgore's emphasis on integrating young into the squad. There have been seven players who have fewer than seven international caps which include San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Korbin Albert and Chelsea forward Mia Fishel.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Gold Cup is slated to take place between February 17 and March 10 in what will be the first official competition for the USWNT since their<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/sweden-zecira-musovic-uswnt-victory-women-s-world-cup-alyssa-naeher-penalty-shootout-confusion/blt13f111034fc84331" target="_blank"> unceremonious group stage exit from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup</a> in Australia.

WHAT NEXT?

'Nobody is out of the mix' - USWNT interim boss Twila Kilgore explains bold Alex Morgan Gold Cup omission | Goal.com

USWNT&apos;s interim boss Twila Kilgore insisted that &quot;nobody is out of the mix&quot; while explaining Alex Morgan&apos;s exclusion from the Gold Cup squad.