Am leaving: Alex Morgan Bid Farewell departure to Her Time with the……

For the past 14 years, Alex Morgan and the U.S. women’s national team have been inseparable. However, on Wednesday, news broke of a sudden and unexpected end to the forward’s tenure in major tournaments with the team she helped uphold and enhance.

Morgan was notably absent from USWNT head coach Emma Hayes’ 18-player Olympic roster and was not selected as one of the four alternates traveling to France. This means she will be watching from the sidelines for the first time since making her debut in March 2010, as the USWNT competes in a major tournament. The last time the team participated in a major event without Morgan was the 2008 Olympics.

This outcome is far from the farewell Morgan might have envisioned—and she may still hope for a different conclusion—but the news serves as a stark reminder that few athletes get to end their careers on their own terms.

“I’m disappointed not to have the chance to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” Morgan expressed in a statement on her social media. “This tournament will always hold a special place in my heart, and I take great pride in wearing the crest.”