Alex Morgan out with injury, Lynn Williams added to USWNT roster

Alex Morgan has been ruled out of the US women’s national team’s Scandinavian Tour with a left hamstring injury. She originally injured her hamstring playing for Olympique Lyonnais against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-May, then aggravated it when she started for Lyon (once again versus PSG) in the Champions League final on Thursday. Morgan played 17 minutes before having to sit down on the pitch and call on trainers.

"It is important that Alex has appropriate time to heal and get 100% healthy and ready for the Orlando Pride," said head coach Jill Ellis via USSF press release. Morgan will return to the United States to rehab her injury so she can rejoin her NWSL club, the Orlando Pride.

Morgan will now be replaced by the North Carolina Courage’s Lynn Williams. Williams is already shaping up to be a mainstay of the WNT offense; her initial lack of call-up for friendlies against Sweden and Norway seems to have been a combination of limited roster space due to a short evaluation period and the return of forward Sydney Leroux, who is returning to the WNT after taking time off to have a child.

Midfielder Morgan Brian was also ruled out for this roster with injury, dropping the original 21 to 20. Now with Morgan out, and Ellis only taking four other forwards, perhaps she felt just going with 19 was too bare a roster to risk even though gameday rosters will be cut down to 18 anyway.

Updated roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Abby Smith (Boston Breakers)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Jaelene Hinkle (NC Courage), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash/Manchester City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC), Sydney Leroux (FC Kansas City), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh(Washington Spirit), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)

USA vs Sweden, 1:30 PM ET, June 8, ESPN2/UDN
USA vs Norway, 1:00 PM ET, June 11, Fox