Erin Matson-USA Field Hockey controversy, explained: Why UNC star coach was denied Olympic Games tryout

The Olympics are supposed to represent the top athletes for each country competing in their respective sports. It is an extremely rare opportunity, and one that only comes around once every four years. 

For USA Field Hockey, compiling the best squad possible should mean the inclusion Erin Matson, the North Carolina standout player-turned-coach, who became the the youngest championship-winning head coach in NCAA Division I history. She is regarded as one of the greatest American field hockey players to grace the pitch. 

However, it does not appear she'll get the chance to represent her country. Matson, 24, was recently denied an Olympic tryout by USA Field Hockey, meaning that the team compiled to compete in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics could very well be without one of the game's top stars. 

MORE: Who is Erin Matson? Stats, playing career, coaching timeline for UNC standout

Here is more on why USA Field Hockey did not extend a tryout to Matson. 

Why was Erin Matson denied an Olympic tryout for USA Field Hockey?

Matson revealed in a social media post Thursday night that she had been denied a tryout for the 2024 Olympic team by USA Field Hockey. 

❤️🤍💙🩵 pic.twitter.com/RTHCdpb4Td

— Erin Matson (@erinmatsonn) April 5, 2024

In the post, Matson explained that she made a request for a tryout in February. She made it clear that she was not requesting to be admitted onto the team, but wanted the opportunity to try out in hopes to join the squad in Paris. 

However, Matson said that USA Field Hockey "chose not to grant me that opportunity." She added that she "met all selection criteria" in the national organization’s bylaws.

"Although it leaves my heart heavy, I have moved forward," Matson said. 

USA Field Hockey reportedly told the Philadelphia Inquirer that it had reviewed Matson’s request for a tryout, but determined that she did not meet its criteria. The organization did not specify how Matson failed to reach those benchmarks but said she was "encouraged to return to field hockey as an athlete and make herself eligible for the next cycle."

"I believe change in USA Field Hockey is necessary," Matson added in the statement. "We should be focused on naming the strongest possible roster in order to be successful on the world stage."

Matson was a stellar player for the Tar Heels from 2018 to 2022, winning four national championships with UNC before she was immediately hired as the program's head coach. After spending last fall in her first year at the helm of the Tar Heels' program, Matson returned to play for Team USA in March at the 2024 Indoor Pan American Cups in Calgary. 

"She changed her mind [about playing]," UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said Thursday. "She came back to me and asked what I thought. I said, ‘You’re only 23, 24 once. If you want to play, we’ll figure it out.’ We had a plan and figured out how she could do it. But she had to be selected, and she wasn’t selected."

A number of UNC officials, including Board of Trustees chair John Preyer, have called on USA Field Hockey to reverse its decision and allow Matson a tryout for the team. Preyer referred to its rejection as "beyond comprehension" as well as touting Matson as "the most accomplished US field hockey player of all time."

"I appreciate the support shown for me by our UNC family and the overall field hockey community," Matson said in her statement. "I will be cheering loudly for the women I grew up playing with and for Team USA, who continue to make us all proud."

If USA Field Hockey elects to stick with its decision, Matson will miss out on playing in the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris. However, there still would be the opportunity for her to play for the red, white and blue at the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles. 

Erin Matson playing career

Matson was named ACC Player of the Year and first-team All-American for all five seasons she played at the University of North Carolina. Her stats for each year are listed below.