USWNT star forward Mallory Swanson and her husband, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, are expecting their first child. The couple announced the news in posts on their personal Instagram accounts on Wednesday.
The update brings closure to what had become one of the biggest mysteries in American soccer. Mallory Swanson, who scored the winning goal in the gold medal game of the 2024 Olympics, had not played for the USWNT or the Chicago Stars in 2025. She hadn’t acknowledged the reason for her months-long absence. Dansby Swanson has been an everyday starter for the Cubs, playing all but one of their first 38 games.
When fielding questions about her absence, the Stars and the USWNT said it was her “personal matter” to share. Chicago stated that it was “fully supportive of her decision” ahead of their 2025 opener, with the winger having signed a contract extension through 2028 before the start of last year. The extension came a year after Dansby Swanson signed a seven-year deal with the Cubs, bringing the couple to the same market after he spent his first six big league seasons with the Atlanta Braves.
Mallory Swanson’s absence has made this a bit of a rebuilding year for Chicago. The team (then known as the Red Stars) narrowly claimed the final spot in last year’s playoff field largely on the back of her brilliance, but now sits at the bottom of the 14-team NWSL table. In her absence, the attack has been headlined by Ally Schlegel and Brazil international Ludmila. The club was the first team to make a coaching change this season, dismissing Lorne Donaldson — who had previously worked with Swanson during her youth club days in Colorado — after 26 regular season games on the job.
USWNT coach Emma Hayes has experimented with a host of new options amongst her player pool, minimizing the absence of Swanson and other key players. Swanson is the second player from last summer’s vaunted USWNT attack, nicknamed “Triple Espresso,” to expect a child. Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson (née Smith) has also missed all of 2025 and announced her pregnancy in March. The third member, Trinity Rodman, is also absent from the NWSL season as she hopes to address her ongoing back issues.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Chicago Cubs, Chicago Red Stars, NWSL
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