Alex Morgan Returning to Good Form Ahead of Olympics as USWNT Takes SheBelieves Cup

Alex Morgan (left) and her good form helped the USWNT capture the SheBelieves Cup – photo credit: USSOCCER

Much was made of the USWNT’s lack of scoring from forwards during its World Cup title run last summer.

A large part of that struggle was Abby Wambach’s decline from star to role player, Sydney Leroux’s lack of finishing quality, Jill Ellis’s decision not to select Crystal Dunn, and Alex Morgan dealing with injury.

In coming back from injruy, Morgan’s form dipped complete with a lack of consistent minutes in the World Cup, and a lack of finishing quality.

All told, she scored 4 international goals in 2015, but just 1 goal prior to the Olympic qualifying cycle.  She even missed a crucial spot kick against Sky Blue FC while playing for her Portland Thorns club team.  Battling injuries all season,  Morgan only managed to feature 4 times scoring 1 goal.

However, as the Olympic qualifying started in September along with some friendly matches, Morgan began to show glimpses of the player she was, and the qualities that made her the heir apparent to Wambach’s place in the team when she burst on the scene in the last World Cup and Olympic cycle.

She scored 4 goals in 8 matches to close out 2015, and has opened 2016 with a bang as she helped lead her USWNT to the inaugural SheBelieves Cup title.

She tallied 2 goals in 3 matches including a world class touch to herself to score against Germany in what amounted to the tournament’s title game.

With Wambach gone, and Leroux out of action for this cycle, Morgan appears ready to take the mantle along with Crystal Dunn in the striker role vacated by Wambach.