In the world of elite soccer, the expectations for players wearing the USWNT jersey are immense. The goal is always the same: win gold, no matter the circumstances. For Mallory Swanson, the pressure to meet these expectations was heavy, especially when injury and self-doubt threatened her passion for the game. But it was under the leadership of Emma Hayes that Swanson and her teammates rediscovered the joy of playing soccer and ultimately triumphed in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Before the gold medal match in Paris, as the team sat in anticipation of what was to come, coach Emma Hayes broke the tension with a remark that would define their approach: “We haven’t come this far to f*** it up tomorrow.” The room erupted in laughter, but Swanson reflects on that moment as a turning point. It was a reminder that they had worked their whole lives for this opportunity, and they couldn’t let it slip away. Could this one moment of humor have sparked the need to secure victory? Let’s find out!

Emma Hayes “let us be us” suggests Mallory Swanson

For Swanson, the path to Paris wasn’t an easy one. A series of injuries and a lack of motivation had caused her to question whether she still loved the game. “When I wasn’t healthy, I couldn’t be me — the girl who just loved to have the ball at her feet,” she confessed in her interview. The 2021 Olympic cycle was a particularly tough time for her, with injury setbacks leading to her missing out on a spot in the Tokyo Olympics.

At that moment, she says, “I felt like my self-worth was tied up with being on that roster,” and the disappointment was overwhelming. Yet, through this adversity, the 26-year-old found clarity and peace, learning to let go of the pressure she placed on herself.

Through her struggles, Swanson learned that the pressure to win, while intense, could not define her. “Nobody cares about form, or injuries, or who you’re playing. They just expect you to win,” she says. The Chicago Red Stars forward credits much of her transformation to Emma Hayes, whose leadership style emphasized reconnecting with the pure joy of the game. “Emma saw that, I think. And she brought back the joy into all of our games. She let us be us,” Swanson shares.

Hayes understood the burden of expectation on the USWNT players and recognized the need to restore a sense of freedom and fun. By encouraging the team to express themselves both on and off the field, Hayes fostered a sense of unity and togetherness that would carry them through their toughest moments.

Emma Hayes transforms struggles into triumph

Amid this challenging journey, Swanson rediscovered her love for soccer, thanks to the support of her teammates and Hayes’ guidance. “When I made the Olympic team in 2016, I just tried to be a sponge. I wanted to soak up everything I could,” she remembers. But after setbacks and struggles, it was the newfound sense of joy that reignited her passion. “I had fun again. Playing for Chicago brought the joy back into my game.”

As the final whistle blew in Paris and Swanson scored the decisive goal that secured gold for the U.S., she felt a deep sense of gratitude and accomplishment. Reflecting on the road to recovery and the support she received, she said, “It’s a full 90 minutes from everybody. It’s all the matches that came before. All the training sessions. It took all of us.” In the end, it wasn’t just about the gold medal—it was about rediscovering their love for the game, and that, for Swanson, was the ultimate victory.