Ashley Hatch has said that being cut from the U.S. women’s national team World Cup roster was “really freaking hard,” but added that she is determined to not let the snub define her.
Hatch was one of the last cuts from the 23-player squad, with the Washington Spirit forward making every USWNT roster in 2023 prior to Vlatko Andonovski naming his team for the World Cup.
The 28-year-old has been prolific with the Spirit in the NWSL, and has five goals in 19 USWNT caps. That strike rate is actually better than that number appears due to many of those appearances coming as a substitute: Hatch is averaging a very healthy 0.71 goals per 90 minutes with the USWNT.
With Catarina Macario injured, many projected Hatch to make the World Cup roster as a backup to Alex Morgan at striker. However, Andonovski opted to lean on the versatility of his other attackers like Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, rather than bringing a true No. 9 like Hatch to play behind Morgan.
Hatch spoke about missing out on the World Cup squad during an appearance on the Snacks podcast.
“Just to put it plain and simple, it was really freaking hard,” Hatch said. “Everyone puts a lot of time and effort into accomplishing the goal of making a World Cup roster. And so for the past year and a half to two years, every single ounce of my energy and effort went into making that roster.
“For it to come down to that final call of Vlatko saying you’re not going to be a part of my roster, my heart definitely sunk. But also in that moment, I didn’t have any regrets because I knew that I had done everything in my power to put myself in the best position to be chosen. So it was a harsh reality that I knew I was going to have to live with, but I also didn’t want it to define who I am as a person and as a player.”
"I didn’t have any regrets because I knew that I had done everything in my power to put myself in the best position to be chosen."
– Ashley Hatch on learning she wasn't selected for the World Cup 🗣
(@Grubhub) pic.twitter.com/SxKNJS7g4N
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) September 7, 2023
One of the most difficult aspects for Hatch was having to initially keep quiet about missing out on the roster. Andonovski notified players about a week before the June 21 roster reveal, with a weekend set of NWSL fixtures in between.
That meant Hatch traveled to Kansas City for the Spirit’s June 18 game against the Current aware she had missed out on the World Cup roster, but without the public knowing.
Hatch said she requested to travel to Kansas City a day after her teammates to process the situation, and she also asked to be subbed out of the match at halftime.
“The game against Kansas City was really difficult,” she said. “I felt like I was suffering in silence because the whole world didn’t know yet. It was a lot so I actually ended up asking if I could be subbed at halftime, just because I couldn’t take it like emotionally, mentally.”
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