Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan denounce teammate’s anti-LGBTQ+ activity

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Two veteran players on the U.S. women’s national soccer team Wednesday denounced teammate Korbin Albert’s social media activity that supported anti-LGBTQ+ content, calling it “extremely, extremely sad.”

Midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Alex Morgan made an unscheduled appearance on a video call with reporters ahead of the SheBelieves Cup opener Saturday against Japan in Atlanta.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to uphold the integrity of this national team through all of the generations, and we are extremely, extremely sad this standard was not upheld,” Horan said. “Our fans and our supporters feel like this is a team they can rally behind, and it’s so important they feel — and continue to feel — undeniably heard and seen.”

Morgan added: “We stand by maintaining a safe and respectful space, especially as allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community. This platform has given us an opportunity to highlight causes that matter to us — something we never take for granted. And we’ll keep using this platform to give attention to causes that are important to us.”

Morgan and Horan, who served as the team’s captains at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, declined to take questions.

Albert, a 20-year-old midfielder who made her national team debut in November, is participating in this training camp, which opened Monday and will run through the tournament’s final day of matches Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. She has practiced with the team for several days and wasn’t disciplined, the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed.

Albert, who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain and appears to have a good chance of making the U.S. Olympic squad this summer, apologized on Instagram last Thursday and directly to her U.S. teammates when camp opened.

“We’ve had internal discussions around the situation, and that will stay within the team,” Morgan said. “But one thing also to note is that we have never shied away from hard conversations within this team.”

Over the years, many U.S. players have spoken in support of the LGBTQ+ community and on other issues.

Albert garnered attention last week after her social media activity circulated online. According to reports, she reposted a Christian sermon on TikTok that said being gay and “feeling transgender” were wrong. She also liked an Instagram post that mocked Megan Rapinoe’s reaction after she tore an Achilles’ tendon early in the NWSL championship game.

On social media, many players condemned Albert’s activity. In her own post, Rapinoe wrote: “For people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs,’ I would just ask one question, are you making any type of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone? Because if you aren’t, all you believe in is hate. And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake TF up!”

Rapinoe signed the note with “Yours Truly #15” — the number she wore during her decorated U.S. career and Albert wore at the Concacaf W Gold Cup last month.

“Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent,” Albert said in an apology posted to Instagram. “I’m really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended.”

The former Notre Dame star represented the United States at the 2022 Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica. Since her promotion to the senior squad, Albert has impressed with her footwork, decision-making and passing. She started five of six matches at the W Gold Cup and logged 90 minutes in the championship victory over Brazil on March 10 in San Diego.