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    • Mallory Swanson is celebrating more than just a gold medal
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    Mallory Swanson is celebrating more than just a gold medal

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    As Mallory Swanson lay on the field at Q2 Stadium last April, a thought crossed her mind.

    “What’s wrong with my knee?” Swanson, a forward for the U.S. women’s national team, wondered when she couldn’t stand up after a collision with an Irish player.

    What was supposed to be a warm-up contest in preparation for playing a key role in the USWNT’s run to World Cup glory this summer suddenly became something else.

    Instead of fighting against countries like Spain, England and Sweden, Swanson faced a long battle with a torn patellar tendon.

    As the USWNT returns to Austin this week looking to begin a brief winning streak following its gold medal at the Summer Olympics, the moment may be sweeter for Swanson than anyone else.

    Sixteen months after that horrific injury, she scored the game-winning goal for the USWNT in the gold medal game against Brazil in Paris, completing a somewhat surprising run for the team and capping their impressive comeback. She will accompany the national team in a game against Iceland at the Q2 Stadium on Thursday

    “It’s really a crazy story when you look back,” said Swanson, who at 26 already has an impressive career spanning decades. “I’m still kind of shocked and in awe. … At the end, wearing a gold medal around your neck and seeing your teammates standing side by side on the podium, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

    More: USMNT vs. Mexico: Assessing Mauricio Pochettino’s first lead against El Tri

    The long way back

    As her kneecap slipped up to the top of her thigh, Swanson hoped she had just dislocated the bone when she felt a twinge of pain on that picturesque spring day in Austin.

    But after the kneecap was replaced, she was taken to a hospital and received a full diagnosis, Swanson learned the true extent of her injury.

    “The tendon is completely torn,” she said. And the worst was yet to come.

    She eventually had to undergo emergency surgery for an infection in her knee.

    Forget the World Cup, for a while the main privilege for Swanson, her family and her friends was simply feeling better.

    Then a long rehab followed.

    “It was a big challenge,” she said. “Probably mentally and physically challenging in equal measure. Whenever you’re out of the game for so long, it can be tiring. Then getting back into shape that you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to achieve again can also be mentally exhausting.”

    In addition to her physical and mental strain during the 11 months she was out of action, she made it a point not to go through the process alone. Swanson credited the support of her friends, family — her husband is Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson — teammates and coaches for a productive recovery. And the USWNT also maintained regular contact.

    “(USWNT captain Lindsey Horan) always asked about me, and that was obviously very meaningful,” she said.

    Although there were other factors, the USWNT without Swanson had its worst performance at a World Cup in 2023, exiting in the round of 16. And while the USWNT was hit by a coaching change and a roster shakeup last fall, Swanson continued to harbor hopes of a return.

    “(Swanson is) one of the strongest mentally and physically I know,” Horan said. “She maintained a positive attitude throughout. … It was such a difficult thing to happen to her and I hate to even think about it because she was at her best and ready to go all out at the World Cup. And it basically had to be postponed for a year.”

    More: With Austin FC missing the MLS playoffs, we announce our player grades for the 2024 season

    A triumphant return

    Swanson joined her club team, the Chicago Red Stars, for training camp in February and then returned for the NWSL season opener on March 16. A few weeks later – and almost exactly a year after her injury – she helped the USWNT win the SheBelieves Cup with victories over Japan and Canada and was named to the Olympic squad a few months later. (Compared to men’s soccer, the Olympics are a major competition for women’s soccer. It is essentially a second World Cup.)

    Swanson started every game of the Olympics and finished with four goals and two assists. Along with Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, Swanson was part of the group that nicknamed itself “Triple Espresso.” But she provided the ultimate moment when she latched on to a through ball early in the second half against Brazil and confidently finished the game’s only goal, which was as good as gold.

    “The goal itself doesn’t matter, it’s more about doing everything you can to help the team win,” said Swanson, who will be honored for 100 caps with the national team on Oct. 27 in Nashville against Iceland. “The medal itself means a lot more (after the injury and rehab). The journey to get there is completely different for everyone, and my last year was really difficult.”

    The game on Thursday

    US Women’s National Team vs. Iceland, 6:30 p.m., Q2 Stadium, TBS, MAX, Peacock, NBC Universo

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    Caradoc Wyn
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