Over the last year, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has been routinely amazed by his wife, Chicago Stars and U.S. women’s national team forward Mallory Swanson.
The pair announced the pregnancy of their first child in May 2025 and in November welcomed a daughter, Josie. Through it all, Mallory, who scored the winning goal in the gold-medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team USA, kept an eye on a return to the pitch.
On Friday, she took a massive step toward her comeback.
The Stars activated Swanson from maternity leave, and while she wasn’t in the starting lineup for Saturday’s road game against the North Carolina Courage, she was available off the bench. Swanson hasn’t played in 18 months — since the then-Red Stars lost their NWSL playoff quarterfinal to the Orlando Pride on Nov. 3, 2024,
“Women are incredible,” Dansby told the Tribune ahead of Friday’s City Series opener against the White Sox at Rate Field. “It’s just been the most incredible, blessed journey that one could ever really fathom.
“To have been alongside with her and obviously going into a new chapter of our life and being parents and having a beautiful baby girl — women are incredible.”
Mallory returned to training with the Stars on May 1, an important milestone in an expedition to which Dansby had a front-row seat.
“You see all the work that she puts in and how much more it means now, and just with her being a mom,” Dansby said. “And for Josie to be able to be on the same journey and, I know she won’t remember any of it, but being able to recap that with her down the line and say your mom did this is pretty cool.”
The Stars could use their star forward’s scoring prowess — she led the team in 2024 with 11 goal contributions (seven goals, four assists). Without Swanson last season, they finished in last place at 3-12-11, averaging 1.23 goals per game. And they are off to a 2-7-0 start this season, having scored only four goals.
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
