It’s been days, yet not everyone has gotten over Alex Morgan‘s snub from the Paris Olympics roster. The new boss, Emma Hayes, couldn’t have made a bolder entrance than deciding to axe the San Diego Waves star. While questions swirl about why Morgan didn’t make the cut, USWNT veteran Becky Sauerbrunn is keenly interested to see who will fill her former teammate’s void.

Speaking on Good Vibes FC Ep. 17 of The Women’s Game, hosted by Sam Mewis, the defender began, “It makes me sad. It’s wild. It’s sad, it’s the end of the era. I thought she was going to be on it, so I was as shocked as everybody else when I saw that announcement.”

While labeling Morgan a ‘winner,‘ Becky underlined the forward’s ‘ultra-competitive’ nature and her knack of not crumbling during high-pressure moments like in the World Cup, Olympics, and qualifiers.

Highlighting what makes Morgan different from others, the Portland Thorns star added, “Alex could adapt to the game state better than any forward I’ve ever played with.” Be it pitching in for defensive duties, winning duels, or creating open spaces in the attack, Becky acknowledged that whatever the team needed, the 34-year-old was always ready to give her all.

“These little things that win you games in tournaments and can save legs, Alex could do that. So I’m excited to see who with this new forward group is going to fill that role,” concluded Becky.

Such high praise from the WNT defender certainly underlines the importance of Morgan in the national team setup. Yet Hayes took a pragmatic step and decided not to fly the 2x World Champion with her to Paris. While the 18-player roster for the summer games is set, let’s hear what the ex-Chelsea manager said in her defense.

Emma Hayes wanted to take USWNT in ‘another direction’ after snubbing Alex Morgan

Many would criticize Emma Hayes for her decision to omit the USWNT veteran. However, even the former Blues boss herself faced a difficult choice and made it reluctantly. “It was a tough decision of course – especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players,” she explained, hinting that her focus is mostly on seeing the next-gen talents leading the team ahead.

Hayes’ decision understandably ‘disappointed‘ Morgan, but the San Diego Waves forward opted to accept Hayes’ conclusion. Instead, the former Tottenham star will be supporting her nation in France. Yet, it remains to be seen which player will be able to fill the void of sheer leadership and formidable presence that Alex Morgan used to embody while donning the USWNT shirt.