What Happened to Morgan Brian’s Spot on the USWNT?

Morgan Gautrat (formerly Brian) emerged onto the national stage at a young age. For the early parts of her career, she was one of the best players in the country, but the past few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster. She was poised to be a USWNT mainstay, so it’s only natural for fans to wonder: what happened to Morgan Brian?

In the 2010-11 season, she was ranked the No. 1 recruit in the country by Top Drawer Soccer, won Gatorade National Player Of The Year, and Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year. In her time at the University of Virginia, she scored 41 goals and had 43 assists. She had a decorated college career, winning just about every award possible, including the MAC Hermann Trophy her junior and senior years. 

Gautrat broke out on the international level during the 2015 Women’s World Cup as the youngest player on the squad. When then-Coach Ellis inserted her into the midfield while Lauren Holiday was out on suspension, the U.S. started to flourish. Her defensive work and ability to control the midfield allowed Carli Lloyd to get into the attack – and we know how that worked out. Gautrat was a huge reason why the USWNT lifted that trophy, and that tournament put her on the women’s soccer map. Then, it all seemed to fall apart. 

The great start to her career came to a halt around 2017 when she began picking up some serious injuries. She struggled to stay healthy and play consistent minutes for both her club and country. From 2017-2018, she was traded to the Chicago Red Stars, then signed with Olympique Lyonnais, ended her contract in France, and returned to the Red Stars. 

It seemed like it was one injury after the other for the midfielder that left her playing odd minutes and not being on the field consistently. At this level, consistency is vital. Though Gautrat always showed flashes of her former brilliance, the lack of minutes meant she fell to the fringes of the USWNT pool.

Despite her inconsistency, her history with the team helped earn her a spot on the 2019 World Cup-winning roster. However, she hasn’t played in a USWNT game since 2019 and doesn’t seem to be in Andonovski’s current plans. At this point, a spot on the Olympic roster is all but out of the question. However, this doesn’t mean her time with the team is over forever. 

The problem for the 28-year-old is that the midfield is where the USWNT has the most depth. It will be a difficult task for her to break back into that roster. However, if her form continues to improve, there’s no reason she can’t challenge for a coveted USWNT spot.

Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons 

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