Mallory Swanson Makes Candid Confession on Losing ‘Love’ for Soccer & Battling Fears as a USWNT Star

Mallory Swanson, a standout forward for the USWNT, has experienced a journey filled with grit, faith, and the relentless pursuit of rediscovering her passion for the beautiful game. In 2016, at just 18, Mal was living the dream, soaking up wisdom from legends like Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan. She was fast-tracked for greatness, feeling invincible. But, as life often does, it threw some curveballs her way.

Fast forward to 2020-2021, and things started to get rocky. Nagging injuries and the pandemic’s curveballs made soccer feel more like a grind than a passion. Camps were tough, training was a slog, and the joy seemed to have packed its bags and left. How did Mallory Swanson navigate the crushing feeling of losing her love for the game? Keep reading to find out.

When soccer lost its spark for Mallory Swanson

As Mallory reflects on everything that brought her to this point, she says, “That last bit, that’s what matters the most to me. It’s been a few months since Paris, since all that. I keep thinking about what the whole experience meant to me. And I keep coming back to joy.” “Because it wasn’t that long ago that I felt like I lost my love for the game. That’s a scary feeling. Because what if it doesn’t come back? What if I don’t become the person I thought I was meant to be? What if it doesn’t all work out, in the end?” What led the USWNT star to feel this way? Let’s dive into the events that triggered these emotions.

Missing out on the 2021 Olympic roster was a gut punch, but also a weird relief. Soccer felt less like a passion and more like a job. She admits in an interview, “It started to feel like a job,” and when she failed to make the 2021 Olympic roster, she felt a sense of relief. “I knew it was coming. I hadn’t been the best version of myself,” she shared. This time was pivotal for Swanson, forcing her to reassess her identity beyond soccer. She had to learn to separate her self-worth from her achievements in the field.

During this period, Swanson found a way to reconnect with her love of soccer. Playing for the Chicago Red Stars allowed her to rediscover the joy of the game. “Playing for Chicago brought the joy back into my game,” she said. By the time the 2023 World Cup cycle came around, she was ready to return, not to chase validation, but to enjoy the game for what it was. Her mindset had shifted from seeking external approval to focusing on her own growth and happiness.

However, Swanson’s journey was far from easy. Just months before the 2023 World Cup, disaster struck. She ruptured her patellar tendon during a match, instantly changing the course of her career. At first, she was in denial. “I was laying on that field, screaming Rose Lavelle’s name, hoping somebody could just pop my knee back in,” she recalled. But the injury was severe, and her dreams of participating in the World Cup came to a crashing halt. Even worse, a knee infection led to an emergency surgery that left her questioning her future. “Am I going to die?” she wondered during those dark moments.

The comeback that redefined her game

But Swanson’s story is about more than just injuries and setbacks. It’s about finding strength in vulnerability. With the unwavering support of her husband, Dansby, her family, and friends, Swanson’s faith helped her through. She focused on the minor victories, and with each recovery step, she reclaimed her joy and love for soccer.

In 2024, Swanson’s journey came full circle. Ahead of the gold medal match against Brazil in Paris, she and her teammates stood together, reminded that the journey was just as important as the destination. Coach Emma Hayes’s simple yet powerful words, “We haven’t come this far to f*** it up tomorrow,” cut through the tension, and Swanson knew that this gold medal was about more than just the game—it was about everything that had led her there.

When Swanson scored the winning goal, it wasn’t just a victory on the scoreboard—it was a triumph of heart, faith, and perseverance. For Mallory Swanson, soccer is no longer just about winning; it’s about the love for the game, the lessons learned along the way, and the people who helped her find her way back. Her story inspires all to fight for what truly matters.