U.S. women’s national team star Mallory Swanson will not play in the Chicago Stars’ season-opening match on Friday against the Orlando Pride. The club has not disclosed more details about the forward’s absence since announcing in January that she was sitting out due to personal reasons.
The team had said they “are fully supportive of her decision.” The team’s social media posts have also been without Swanson leading up to the 2025 season.
“Maybe (the Stars’ communications team) can answer more, but to me, it’s a week-to-week thing,” coach Lorne Donaldson said on Wednesday. “And I can just give her space and let whatever happens happen. We can’t do much about her situation right now because that’s her space right now.
“We just want her to be happy and we are always behind her.”
Swanson last played a competitive game on Nov. 8, 2024, starting as Chicago fell in the first round away at Orlando. She was omitted from Emma Hayes’ United States squads in the November and December, January and SheBelieves Cup camps along with fellow star forwards Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman. While Wilson has since announced that she’s pregnant and Rodman is front and center as the Washington Spirit prepare to kick off their season, Swanson’s absence has yet to be…
