Mallory Swanson made her long-awaited return to the field on Saturday, marking the first time in 18 months that she played since giving birth to her first child in November.
Entering as a substitute in the 76th minute during the Chicago Stars’ match against North Carolina Courage, Swanson expressed her feelings to reporters afterward, stating that her journey felt less like reaching the finish line and more like the beginning of a new chapter.
“Every time I become a mother, I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new role. It’s been a journey to start something new,” Swanson shared.
Her return served as a beacon of hope for the Chicago team, which suffered a disappointing 4-0 loss to Courage. The Stars faced further setbacks when goaltender Alyssa Neher appeared to sustain a hamstring injury shortly after the match began, forcing her substitution in the 21st minute.
Swanson, a key forward for the U.S. team with aspirations for Olympic gold in 2024, played for the first time in 559 days. She was instrumental in her previous tournament participation, scoring four goals, including the decisive goal that earned the U.S. victory over Brazil for the gold medal.
As the USWNT prepares for a friendly in Brazil and with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, Swanson emphasized the importance of taking her journey one step at a time. “I’m focused on seeing what’s next and continuing to feel everything,” she said, expressing her commitment to personal growth and making an impact on the field.
Since joining Chicago in 2021 through a trade, Swanson has netted 23 goals, including 11 goals and six assists in 2022, leading the Stars to the playoffs and earning MVP finalist honors that season.
“Having Mal back is significant for us,” stated Stars head coach Martin Sjögren post-match. He also noted the need to manage expectations following her long absence from competitive play. “We must understand that she’s just getting back into the swing of things after such a long time away,” he added.
Currently, Chicago sits at the bottom of the NWSL standings, claiming only six points from 10 outings, with a troubling goal differential of -18, the worst in the league. Sjögren expressed disappointment, acknowledging the team’s struggles: “More or less disappointing, I can say that.” With two matches remaining before the NWSL embarks on a five-week break for the FIFA Men’s World Cup, the Stars face a challenging period ahead.
At 28 years old, Swanson has made significant contributions to the U.S. national team, participating in 103 games and scoring 38 goals since making her debut at just 17 in 2016. Transitioning to a professional career in 2017, she quickly rose through the ranks in the NWSL, initially signing with the Washington Spirit and later playing for Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) before her trade to Chicago.
