U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes has said Alex Morgan was held out of Saturday’s win over South Korea due to an issue with her pelvic floor.
The USWNT earned a 4-0 victory in Hayes’ first match in charge, as Mallory Swanson and Tierna Davidson each scored a pair at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.
Morgan was an unused substitute in the match, prompting Hayes to be asked in her post-game press conference if there was anything to be made of the veteran’s absence.
“No we shouldn’t make anything of it,” Hayes replied. “[Morgan] felt yesterday — this is an important issue to raise — stretching a little bit in her pelvic area. And us women who have had children, we have to focus on keeping our pelvic floor agile.
“I told her yesterday, I’m not going to take any risks today because I want her to play Tuesday. So I took the decision not to bring her into the game, so she’s nice and fresh for Tuesday.”
Morgan gave birth to her daughter Charlie in 2020. Hayes, meanwhile, gave birth to her son Harry in 2018.
The 34-year-old striker only just returned from an ankle injury that sidelined her for more than a month.
The USWNT will face South Korea on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota in the second of two friendlies against the Asian side.
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