2024-07-27 16:17:41
After everything she went through last year, Mallory Swanson is excited to be in France for the Olympics. She also plans to bring some changes to Team USA.
So far, she’s on track: She scored twice in the U.S.’s Olympic opener, a 3-0 win over Zambia.
Swanson is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in six games starting last year when she injured her knee in a friendly against Ireland in preparation for the Women’s World Cup. Her patellar tendon injury required surgery and a lengthy recovery process. This also prevented her from making the World Cup squad.
Swanson, 26, reflected on his recovery as the team drove to the Nice Stadium for the game against Zambia.
“Being a part of this team and having all these girls and coaches and staff around me and supporting me and being able to support each other and try to achieve something — I’m so grateful right now,” she said before the game. The match against Germany in Marseille on Sunday.
U.S. staff are cautious about Swanson’s recovery. Earlier this year, she trained with the team during the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup but did not play. She returned to competition at the SheBelieves Cup in April.
Swanson plays a key role in Team USA’s offense under new coach Emma Hayes. Vlatko Andonovsky.
Swanson is part of a dynamic forward group along with Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman. The three formed a good chemistry.
“We really started to embrace the way and the principles of how Emma wanted us to play,” Swanson said. “It’s been really fun, being able to learn different things and try to apply them…our team is pretty special.”
Rodman made his Olympic debut and scored another goal in the elimination of Zambia.
“We exceeded everyone’s imagination. We were more than just an athletic team with a fast forward. We were much more than that,” Rodman said. “We need to believe deep down that we can knock teams down. If it’s passing the ball, throwing the ball, pushing each other off, then we can bring more depth. I think living and breathing that on the field will help We improve.
Swanson made his debut in 2016. But Andonovski denied her participation in the Tokyo Olympics, citing injuries and inconsistent performance.
Swanson, who is from Littleton, Colo., originally committed to UCLA but never played a game for the Bruins. Instead, she joined the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League, becoming one of the first players to eschew college and turn pro.
Swanson is married to Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson and currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL.
After Sunday’s game, the fifth-ranked United States will face Australia in Marseille on Wednesday. The German team defeated the Australian team 3-0 in the opening match.
With the top two teams in each of the three groups advancing to the knockout rounds, the U.S. team is already in good shape.
The Americans squandered their scoring chances, but it was still a team and personal victory for Swanson, whose two goals were only about 70 seconds apart in the first half.
Swanson currently has 36 goals in 95 international appearances.
“It’s a good start,” Swanson said. “But in this game, in the game, we just have to fine-tune a few little things.”
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Associated Press reports.
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