Mallory Diane Swanson (née Pugh; born April 29, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT).
After playing extensively at the under-17 and under-20 level, Swanson debuted for the USWNT in 2016 at age 17, becoming the team's youngest player since Heather O'Reilly in 2002. Later that year she represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she became the youngest Olympic goalscorer for the United States. She won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring the only goal in the Olympic final.
Swanson elected to forego her college career at UCLA to turn professional in 2017, signing with the Washington Spirit, where she stayed for three seasons before playing at Sky Blue FC. She was then traded to the Chicago Red Stars, playing in the same city as her husband, Chicago Cubs baseball player Dansby Swanson.
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Early life
Born in Littleton, Colorado, to Karen and Horace Pugh, Swanson was raised with her older sister Brianna in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Her mother was a long-distance runner and her father ran track and played football. Growing up, Swanson considered her older sister Brianna a role model and cites her as a reason she got started in soccer. She started playing soccer at the age of four and then followed in her sister's footsteps and played club soccer with Real Colorado in the Elite Clubs National League. She played on the competitive team with the club at the U-11 through U-18 levels; although she started playing recreational soccer at the U-5 level. During her last two years with the team, she often trained with the club's Boys Development Academy team. Swanson helped Real Colorado win state titles in 2010 and 2011. In addition, the team made it to the Elite Clubs National League finals in both 2013 and 2014. At the U-16 level, Real Colorado won state and regional titles and became runner-up at nationals. Swanson was named the MVP of the regional tournament that year.
Swanson attended Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch from 2012 to 2016. In her three seasons with the team, Swanson scored 47 goals and recorded 23 assists. As a freshman, Swanson was named to the All-Colorado Team after leading her team to a state title. She was named offensive MVP at Mountain Vista and a NSCAA Youth All-American for 2013. During her sophomore year, despite missing more than half of her high school games due to national team commitments, she helped the team to the state semifinals. As a junior, Swanson scored 24 goals and 12 assists in 18 games and helped the team reach the state semifinals. She was subsequently named the 2014–15 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame 2015 High School Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, she was named NSCAA Youth Girls National Player of the Year for 2014 and 2015.
In January 2016, it was reported that Swanson had turned down college in order to turn professional and play for National Women's Soccer League club Portland Thorns FC when she finished high school. Later that week, her father said the reports were false and that Swanson would join the Bruins of the University of California, Los Angeles for the 2016 season as originally planned. In July 2016, it was announced she delayed entrance to UCLA until January 2017, due to national team commitments for the Rio Olympics and the 2016 FIFA U–20 Women's World Cup. She appeared in three non-competitive spring scrimmages in early 2017 before departing UCLA prior to starting her freshman season to pursue a professional career.
Club career
Washington Spirit (2017–2019)
After much speculation as to where she would go when she turned pro, Swanson officially joined the Washington Spirit of the NWSL on May 13, 2017. She made her professional debut for the Spirit on May 20, 2017, versus FC Kansas City. Swanson scored her first professional goal on June 3, 2017, against the Houston Dash. Swanson’s first career assist came on August 26, 2017, in a game against the Chicago Red Stars. Swanson recorded her first professional brace later in the season on September 30, 2017, against Seattle Reign FC, where she also became the first teenager in NWSL history to score multiple goals in a single regular-season match. Swanson scored 6 goals in her rookie season and was named a finalist for NWSL Rookie of the Year.
Swanson remained with the Spirit for the 2018 season. She sustained a PCL sprain in her right knee on May 27, forcing her to miss 8 games. She returned to the pitch on August 5 against Seattle Reign FC.
Sky Blue FC (2020)
On January 16, 2020, at the 2020 NWSL College Draft, the Spirit traded Swanson to Sky Blue FC in exchange for four draft picks. She made her Sky Blue debut on September 5, 2020, in an NWSL Fall Series match against her former club, the Washington Spirit, entering the game in the 61st minute. Sky Blue won 2–1, with Swanson assisting Margaret Purce on the match-winning goal in stoppage time.
Chicago Stars (2021–present)
In December 2020, Sky Blue traded Swanson and Sarah Woldmoe to the Chicago Red Stars (later named Chicago Stars FC) in exchange for the fourth and eighth overall draft picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a conditional first round draft pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and an international roster spot for 2021–2022. Swanson made her debut in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, starting the team's game against Kansas City. In 2021, Swanson was voted in second place for the most valuable player in the NWSL behind Jess Fishlock from OL Reign.
On February 18, 2023, Swanson's husband Dansby Swanson noted that the NWSL would have facilitated a trade for Mallory Swanson to another team if the Chicago Cubs had not signed him to a contract. After missing the majority of the 2023 NWSL season due to the knee injury she sustained while on international duty with the USWNT in April 2023, Swanson returned for the beginning of the 2024 NWSL season and started in the season opener against the Utah Royals on March 16, 2024. Swanson scored her first goal since her injury later in the month on March 29, 2024, an equalizer to secure a 1–1 draw against the Orlando Pride.
International career
Youth national teams
In 2011, Swanson attended the annual United States under–14 girl's national team identification camp from July 13 to August 7 in Portland, Oregon. The camp was used as an evaluation for U–14 training camp held in September. Swanson was then called into the U–14 national team training camp at Home Depot Center in Carson, California, from September 18 to 25. In 2012, Swanson attended a U–15 national team training camp from February 11 to 18. She then joined the team for a second training camp from June 3 to 10 at The Home Depot Center. Also during the summer, the U–14 national team conducted three separate training camps to replace the large identification camp of previous years. Swanson attended the second camp, which ran from August 12 to 19.
In 2013, Swanson attended a U–15 national team training camp from February 24 to March 2 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. She then moved up to the U–17 national team and traveled to San José, Costa Rica for an international tournament in late April. Following the tournament, Swanson joined the U–17 team for a training camp from June 9 to 16. In preparation for the 2013 CONCACAF Women's U–17 Championship, Swanson attended another U–17 training camp from July 21 to 31 in Columbus, Ohio, as well as a camp in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, from September 15 to 22.
In late September 2013, Swanson was named to the roster for the 2013 CONCACAF U–17 Women's Championship held in Jamaica from October 30 to November 9. Before heading to Jamaica, the team trained together once again in Lakewood Ranch for seven days. During the tournament, Swanson was a key player and leading scorer with five goals and three assists. In the semifinal match against Mexico on November 7, the United States fell in penalties after a 1–1 tie in regulation. With a third-place finish in the tournament, the United States did not qualify to the 2014 FIFA U–17 Women's World Cup.
Swanson remained with the U–17 national team for a short time in 2014. She started off the year with the team at a training camp from January 11 to 19 in Carson, California. The camp served as a preparation for an international tournament held in February. Swanson was on the roster for the tournament, which was held at the U.S. National Team Training Center in Carson. In their final match of the tournament on February 9, the United States faced Japan. During the game, Swanson scored her fourth goal of the tournament to help the United States pull away the 2–1 victory and win the tournament title.
Senior national team
Following a successful run with the U-20 women's national team, Swanson was called up to the senior national team for the first training camp of 2016 from January 5 to 21 leading up to a match against Ireland. At age 17, she was one of the youngest field players to be called up to the team in 15 years. On January 23, 2016, Swanson earned her first cap for the USWNT during the match against Ireland, coming in for Alex Morgan in the 58th minute. She was the youngest player to debut for the national team since Heather O'Reilly's debut in 2002. She then became the 19th United States player to score in her debut when she scored her first international goal in the 83rd minute to secure the United States' 5–0 win.
Following her first appearance, Swanson was named to the 20–player roster for 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying and became the youngest player to be named to an Olympic qualifying roster for the USWNT. In the team's opening match against Costa Rica on February 10, Swanson replaced Crystal Dunn in the 68th minute. She made her third appearance for the team in their second match of the tournament, coming in for Ali Krieger in the 75th minute to help the USWNT defeat Mexico 1–0. Swanson made her first start in the team's match against Puerto Rico on February 15. During the match, she recorded an assist in the 6th minute. In the 18th minute, Puerto Rico player Selimar Pagan took down Swanson in the penalty box and the USWNT was given a penalty kick, which Carli Lloyd scored. In the 60th minute, Swanson sent a cross towards Alex Morgan, but it was deflected off Puerto Rican defender Ashley Rivera and into her own net. Swanson started in the semifinal match against Trinidad and Tobago on February 19, helping the USWNT qualify to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after a 5–0 victory. Swanson also made the start in the final against Canada, helping the USWNT win the tournament after defeating Canada 2–0.
Swanson was named to the roster for the 2016 SheBelieves Cup that took place from March 3 to 9. She started in the team's opening match of the tournament on March 3 against England. In the match against France on March 6, Swanson assisted the only goal of the match in stoppage time, giving the USWNT the win. She also made an appearance in the final match of the tournament against Germany and the USWNT won the 2016 SheBelieves Cup with a 2–1 win.
Swanson joined a 23–player roster for a training camp ahead of two matches against Colombia in early April. On April 6, Swanson scored her second international goal off an assist by Carli Lloyd in the team's first match against Colombia. She then assisted Lloyd's goal six minutes later. She played all 90 minutes in the second match against Colombia on April 10. When Swanson turned 18 on April 29, 2016, she had added her name to a list of records, including fifth all-time for most USWNT caps before the age of 18 with 11, third for most goals before the age of 18 with two, fourth in most starts before the age of 18 with seven, and first for most assists before the age of 18 with five.
Personal life
Swanson is a Christian. In late 2017, she started dating Major League Baseball shortstop Dansby Swanson after meeting him through her brother-in-law and Swanson's former teammate Jace Peterson. The couple married on December 10, 2022. She began using her married name in 2023. On May 7, 2025 the couple announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first child. In November 2025, Swanson gave birth to a baby girl.
Career statistics
Club
As of September 21, 2024
International
As of match played October 30, 2024
Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Swanson goal.
Honors
United States
FIFA Women's World Cup: 2019
Summer Olympic Games Gold Medal: 2024
CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2018; 2022
SheBelieves Cup: 2016; 2018; 2020; 2022; 2023, 2024
Individual
U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year: 2015
Gatorade National Female Soccer Player of the Year: 2016
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Youth Girls National Player of the Year: 2014
NSCAA Youth All–America Team: 2013
Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year Top 5 Finalist: 2012
NWSL Best XI: 2022
SheBelieves Cup Top scorer: 2023
ESPN FC Women's Rank: #15 on the 2024 list of 50 best women's soccer players 2024