Head Shot
Soccer

Mallory Swanson

Olympian 2016, 2024

Mallory Swanson
  • 1

    GOLD

  • 0

    SILVER

  • 0

    BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Mallory Pugh smiles to the crowd from the field of clay

Height

5'4"

Age

26

Hometown

Highlands Ranch, CO

Education

University of California

Quick Facts
  • Sport: Soccer

  • Position: Forward

Biographical Information

Mallory Swanson is an American soccer player known for her speed, agility, and goal-scoring ability. She burst onto the scene at a young age, quickly becoming one of the most promising talents in U.S. women’s soccer. Swanson’s attacking prowess and dynamic play have made her a key figure for both club and country.

Olympic Highlights

Swanson made her Olympic debut at the age of 18 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Despite her youth, she played a significant role for the U.S. Women’s National Team and made history as the youngest American player to score an Olympic goal during a group stage.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, she played a pivotal role in securing the gold medal, scoring goals against Zambia and Germany in the group stage before netting the medal-securing goal in the final match against Brazil.

Swanson developed her love for soccer from an early age. Her decision to forgo college soccer after a brief stint at UCLA to turn professional was a significant moment in her career. Off the field, Swanson is known for her involvement in community service and her dedication to inspiring the next generation of soccer players.

Club Highlights

Swanson’s professional career has been marked by her rapid rise and consistent performances at the club level and for the senior national team:

Swanson signed with the Washington Spirit straight out of high school, becoming one of the youngest players in NWSL history. She made an immediate impact, scoring on her debut and quickly establishing herself as a key player. She scored six goals in her rookie season.

During this time, Swanson played in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, helping the U.S. Women’s National Team win the tournament.

Swanson established herself as one of the most prolific young players in U.S. national team history during her teenage years, setting the record for most assists before age 20 with 12. She ranked second all-time in both starts (27) and total caps (35) for a teenager, while her 11 goals before turning 20 placed her in a tie for third place on the all-time teenage scoring list.

Traded to Sky Blue FC in 2020, she continued to develop her game and contribute significantly to the team’s attacking efforts.

Swanson joined the Chicago Red Stars the following season and has been a standout performer, consistently leading the team in goals and assists. Her dynamic play and leadership on the field have been crucial to the Red Stars' success.

Early Career

Swanson made her debut for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the age of 17, becoming the youngest player in over a decade to do so. Her performances in youth competitions include leading the U.S. U-20 team to the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.

Olympic Experience
  • 2-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 gold)
    • Olympic Games Paris 2024, gold (Team - Women)
    • Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 5th (Team - Women)
World Championships Experience
  • Most recent: 2019 – gold (Team - Women)
  • Years of participation: Team - Women 2019
  • Medals: 1 (1 gold)
    • Gold – 2019 (Team - Women)

Explore More Athletes

Gianluca
Busio

Kevin
Paredes

Cayla
Barnes

Jamie
Anderson

Nick
Baumgartner