When To Watch Alex Morgan At The Olympics

Good news, everyone — the highlight of the summer is finally in sight. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games kick off on Aug. 5 and conclude on Aug. 21, so we'll have over two weeks with a solid excuse to spend hours in front of the TV each day. (I mean, it would be unpatriotic to not watch as many competitions as possible, right?) With over 6,755 hours hours of programming, it's time to plan ahead and figure out when our favorite athletes and teams will be competing. So, listen up women's soccer fans — because you'll definitely want to know when Alex Morgan will play at the 2016 Olympics.

At her first Olympics in 2012, Morgan made a major splash — not only did she score three goals during the Games, but she also clinched her team's spot in the gold medal match by scoring an overtime goal in the semifinals. The team went on to defeat Japan in the final game and they brought home a well-deserved gold medal. This year, Morgan is one of four forwards competing on the 18-member team — and, if the U.S. wins again, it'll be their fourth consecutive gold medal.

So, let's take a look at the schedule — after all, we don't want to miss a single moment of watching Morgan on the field.

Wednesday, Aug. 3

Although the Olympics officially kick off with the Aug. 5 opening ceremony, certain sports teams begin competing on Aug. 3. Luckily for fans who can't wait to see Morgan on the field, women's soccer is one of them. The U.S. versus New Zealand match airs 6:00 p.m. ET. The U.S. team tops the latest FIFA rankings, while New Zealand is currently placed 17th — so it's safe to say this victory is in the bag.

Saturday, Aug. 6

The day after the Opening Ceremony, the U.S. will hit the field again at 4:00 p.m. ET for a game against France. France nabbed fourth place in 2012 so it'll be a more competitive match, but the U.S. is favored to win this game as well. When the U.S. went up against France in 2012, Morgan scored two goals — including the one that sealed her team's victory.

Tuesday, Aug. 9

The U.S. will play Colombia at 6:00 p.m. ET. The Colombian team isn't considered to be especially strong — FIFA's rankings currently put them in 24th place. So, it looks like we'll get to watch Morgan & Co. easily clinch another victory.

Friday, Aug. 12

Women's soccer quarterfinal games will air at 12:00 p.m. ET, 3:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. ET, and 9:00 p.m. ET. The teams playing will, of course, depend on the results of the aforementioned games — but it will be shocking if the U.S. doesn't easily make it to this round. The only real question is which time slot they'll compete in.

Friday, Aug. 16

The semifinals will air at 12:00 p.m. ET and 3:00 p.m. ET. Will Morgan score another last-minute goal to secure her team's spot in the gold medal match? Although moments like that are rare, I'm willing to bet she'll score a goal or an assist during this game.

Friday, Aug. 19

If all goes according to plan, we'll watch the U.S. compete for the bronze medal at 12:00 p.m. ET or the gold medal at 4:30 p.m. I have a hunch they'll bring home the gold, but I don't want to jinx it. Either way, we'll get to watch Morgan compete in six matches this year (unless there's a major upset that eliminates the U.S. from the finals) and I can't wait to see her hit the field and score some impressive goals.