San Diego Wave forward and U.S. women’s national team star Alex Morgan injured her left ankle during an NWSL match against the Orlando Pride on Friday, forcing her to leave the game.
The incident occurred during a goal-line scramble, during which Morgan made a violent tackle. She then limped off the field.
The 34-year-old has appeared in four NWSL matches this season but is yet to score a goal.
Any serious injury to Morgan’s ankle would put his involvement in the USWNT’s 2024 Olympic campaign in doubt. That tournament kicks off in France in just under 100 days, and any structural damage or even a serious sprain could mean Morgan will miss the tournament altogether, or at least face a race against time to get in shape before the tournament.
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At the very least, this will make Morgan a potential doubt for the USWNT’s next international window, which will be the first under new manager Emma Hayes. That window begins in just over a month, on May 28, and will see the United States play two games against South Korea in their final preparation before the Olympics.
Morgan continues to be an influential figure in the United States as they enter a new era with a number of young players ahead of Hayes’ arrival. The forward was a late recall as an injury replacement for the 2024 Gold Cup, and ended up starting all but one match and scoring twice as the United States won the competition. She started both matches at the SheBelieves Cup earlier this month, as the United States won that competition on penalties against Canada.
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(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)