We all know the vitriol Coach Hayes faced when she excluded two-time World champion Alex Morgan. Veteran Lynn Williams was a last-minute USWNT inclusion, as Catarina Macario took a knock. Like Morgan, Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden also remained unselected for Team USA. Gorden recently opened up about not making the gold medal-winning squad and also sounded bleak about her USWNT future.

Sarah Gorden seems not very hurt about not being called up to the Olympics. She is the one who lives and acts without expectations. “I think I’m just in a place where I have absolutely no expectations. I just want to do what I can do to the best of my abilities because when I do that, I feel good about myself, my performance,” said Gorden, as compiled by the Athletic’s Kamran Nia on X.

The Angel City star added, “I feel good about what I’m giving to the game, what I’m giving to my team. That’s kind of where I stand right now.” Thereafter an interviewer asked Gorden if she spoke about her USWNT future with Emma Hayes or any other big names in US Soccer. “No,” she replied. Anyhow, Gorden has a leadership role in the LA-based NWSL club. But she can’t mirror her Angel City stint in her national team career, as her future in the USWNT remains bleak.

Will Angel City’s coach again have to complain about Emma Hayes snubbing Gorden?

The USWNT already has a rock-solid backline. Generational talent Naomi Girma leads the US defense, while Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett also remain coach Hayes’ favorite picks. The US camp has a list of reserve center-backs such as Emily Sams, Sam Staab, Alan Cook, and Malia Berkley, who are yet to break through. Meanwhile, Sarah Gorden and another bunch still remain outside the team, hoping they would perhaps be called up. Since Gorden and others got no tournament such as the Olympics to prove their mettle, there is a high chance of Emma Hayes snubbing her for the WC. Let’s see how the saga unfolds.