After an 18-month hiatus for maternity leave, Mallory Swanson made an impressive return to the pitch for Chicago Stars FC, quickly making her mark by scoring in her second game back.
Coming on as a substitute at halftime, Swanson demonstrated her skill with a striking goal from outside the box, firing a low shot past Bay FC goalkeeper Emmy Allen at the near post. This decisive scoring maneuver led Chicago to a 1-0 victory.
Noteworthy Returns
Swanson’s prior appearance for Chicago was in November 2024. She played against North Carolina Courage last weekend, marking her official return to NWSL action. The recent goal ended a scoreless streak that had stretched to 11 games, marking her first league goal since an impressive stretch of four consecutive scoring games from June to July 2024.
Interestingly, this match against Courage was Swanson’s first in 559 days. During her absence, she had been a key player for the U.S. national team, where she scored four goals in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic gold medal, including the crucial goal in the final against Brazil.
Swanson’s return coincides with an upcoming friendly trip to Brazil for the USWNT and comes just a year before the highly anticipated 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Game Dynamics Shift
The match took a significant turn just moments before Swanson’s goal when Bay FC’s goalkeeper, Jordan Silkowitz, received a straight red card for an intentional handball outside the penalty area. This followed an earlier expulsion of teammate Aldana Cometti in the 12th minute, reducing Bay FC to nine players.
Chicago’s win is particularly crucial, as the team currently sits at 15th in the NWSL standings with only nine points this season. This victory marks their third win of the year, offering a much-needed boost to their morale.
Near the end of the match, Swanson twisted her ankle while vying for the ball in a corner. Despite appearing to be in some discomfort, she managed to exit the field on her own and completed her day by observing the remaining minutes from the bench.
Career Highlights
At just 28 years old, Swanson boasts an impressive record of 103 appearances and 38 goals for the United States national team. Making her USWNT debut at 17, she was selected for the Olympic roster later that same year.
Turning professional in 2017, Swanson made the bold decision to leave college, stepping onto the field as a notable teen in the NWSL. Initially signing with the Washington Spirit, she was traded to Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) in January 2020 before moving to Chicago later that same year, though the regular season was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent NWSL Developments
In other league action, the Kansas City Current secured a victory over the Thorns, extending their home unbeaten streak to 22 games—a new NWSL record. Portland forward Sophia Wilson opened scoring in the match with a left-footed shot that found the net in the 14th minute.
Current captain Ro LaBonta leveled the score in the 41st minute with his first goal of the season. NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga later put the Current ahead with his sixth goal in the 63rd minute, deftly setting up substitute Hayley Hopkins in stoppage time to seal the win.
Interestingly, all of Portland Thorns’ losses and goals conceded this season have occurred on the road, contrasting with the Current’s strong performance, leaving them undefeated in five home games so far.
Contributions to this report were made by ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf, utilizing information from ESPN Global Research and the Associated Press.
