It was a rather surprising day for many USWNT fans. Their roaster for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been released, and the new boss Emma Hayes decided to go for a bold squad picking many youngsters. With the retirement of former icons such as Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, and Ali Kieger, the team will also miss the services of its recent skipper Alex Morgan.

But more astonishingly, even NWSL’s record goalscorer Lynn Williams has also been left out of the main roster but isn’t being talked about much. However, her friend and former star Sam Mewis has penned down an optimistic message for the forward.

Taking to her X (previously Twitter account) Sam Mewis wrote, “Proud of you @lynnraenie. You are so valued and I know you’ll impact this team from wherever you are! <3,” acknowledging her ability, and showing confidence in the NWSL’s all-time leading scorer.

Gotham FC’s striker has been one of the most consistent players for the club as well as the country over the years and has been placed on the list of alternatives for the Olympics. And it looks like, being 31 years old might have proved to be a drawback for her, but on the contrary, the inclusion of Crystal Dunn, who is also the same age, makes the idea a bit uncertain.

Both Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams share a bigger bond than just colleagues on the field. They are claimed to be best friends and played together not only for the national team but also for Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, and the Kansas City Current. As the two shared a lift to a U.S. Women’s National Team U-23 training camp and got acquainted along the way, they became teammates and then roommates, and a friendship blossomed.

“We both grew up pretty similarly,” Lynn Williams said. “We had middle-class parents, we both had to work growing up … just the way we think, it’s pretty similar.” Maybe that shared background, mindset, and upbringing have been a foundation for the development of a unique camaraderie both on and off the field. “We know how to balance each other,” Williams added. “We have been roommates for four years, so we know when we need space, when we need to vent and when we need to have a good time.”

Mewis, being confident in her confidant also opined that Williams would win this year’s NWSL’s MVP over Sophia Smith and Alex Morgan. However, this season has been a bit slow for the striker who scored just 3 goals in 7 games for Gotham. Meanwhile, the league’s leading scorer Sophia Smith has also been included while Morgan is being left out.

Alex Morgan showed a bigger route out than Lynn Williams

Fitness and recent form might have influenced Emma Hayes’ decision entirely this time. Where Lynn Williams has been selected as a ‘backup’ in case replacements are needed, the big surprise is Alex Morgan being left out of the squad. Morgan, a three-time Olympian, and two-time Women’s World Cup winner is the most notable absence from the 18-player list announced by Hayes on Wednesday. With 123 goals in 224 appearances for the national team, her omission is surprising.

Instead, versatile veteran Crystal Dunn, who has played on the back line in recent years, is included as a forward. She joins Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw in the forward lineup. Citing that it was a difficult decision, Hayes said that the limited squad number was a major challenge in choosing the San Diego forward.

“Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months,” Hayes said in a statement post-selection.

Moreover, Morgan’s recent injury and her preference for young players have resulted in Hayes omitting her. Morgan will surely miss her first Olympics since 2008 and will leave further doubts about her selection in the future. But with a new approach taken by the former Chelsea manager, will USWNT regain past glory? Let us know in the comments.