When the Olympic group play begins on Thursday, Mallory Swanson will make her first appearance in a major international tournament since the 2019 World Cup Final. In that time, she’s played on three different club teams, battled a loss of form, and multiple injuries. Just two months before last summer’s World Cup, she ruptured her patellar tendon in friendly match against Ireland. Mal Swanson’s return to play has come with universal praise and adoration from her coaches, and her teammates for both club and country.
Swanson’s comeback began with the Chicago Red Stars. Head coach Lorne Donaldson did not expect to have Swanson available at the beginning of the season. “I came in thinking we’d have to play the first few games without Mal,” Donaldson said after the Red Stars’ home opener. “Any time we can have her on the field is a plus… She puts fear in her opponents.”
Three games into the season, Swanson scored her first goal against the Orlando Pride. “What I learned the past three games is, it takes time, and I think I needed to give myself a little grace with where I was at, and honestly just take a deep breath and shoot the ball,” Swanson recalled after the match.
The first goal came on an assist from Jenna Bike. “Mal’s just a person who makes everyone around them better,” Bike said in the post-match press conference. “It has been probably one of the highlights of my career playing with a player like [her]. [She] makes me better, [she] makes the team better, and having [her] back after last season has been such a blessing.”
Swanson scored her first goals for the USWNT since her injury in a friendly against Korea Republic on her home soil in Colorado. “Mal makes it so easy,” USWNT teammate Rose Lavelle praised her efforts. “I’m always so amazed. She’s faced so much adversity, and she just comes back like, stronger than ever. She’s so good, and so fun to play with. I’m not surprised, she had what, two goals and an assist? She’s gonna keep cruising.”
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has been impressed by Swanson’s efforts. “She’s a charismatic character, with a great desire to score,” Hayes said ahead of the Olympic group stage. “You can tell she’s been through a lot. She’s been a joy to coach.”
Hayes also described a “natural telepathy” between Swanson and teammate Sophia Smith. “We just have a connection,” Smith said ahead of the Olympics. “It’s fun to play with someone you can play off of… playing with Mal is so much fun. Our time got cut short last year, and I was looking forward to building that relationship on the field.”
Alyssa Naeher, Swanson’s teammate for club and country echoed the sentiments of pride and amazement. “I'm so proud of Mal. To have firsthand view of the last few years for her and you know, everything. She's putting all the work that she's done both on and off the field to get to this point. I know it has not been easy for her. I couldn't be happier. I'm proud of her. I'm excited to go over there with her. And hopefully, we can come back with the gold medal.”
Mal Swanson was honored to return to the USWNT, but it was an effort shared by a community of support. “I wouldn’t be back if I didn’t have that support [from] my teammates, my coaches, the organization, my friends and family, I give all the credit to them. When you’re down bad, it’s those people you need to pick you up. I definitely wouldn’t be here without them.”
Swanson comes to the Olympic tournament in terrific form, having scored in four straight matches for the Chicago Red Stars. She collected an assist in the team’s 1-0 win against Mexico, and is poised for a breakout performance in this summer’s Olympic tournament.