In this week’s soccer edition of The IX Sports Podcast, host Kathleen Gier catches listeners up on what star player Mallory Swanson had to say about her return to the pitch after having a baby at NWSL media days.
Swanson welcomed her first child, Josie, with husband Dansby Swanson in November. Swanson missed the 2025 NWSL season with the Chicago Stars while on maternity leave, but plans to make her return in 2026.
“She’s really enjoying being a new mom,” Gier said of Swanson. “She has definitely already taken kind of a different approach to watching the games. It’s a different feeling there, which I can not imagine. But, so excited to get a little bit of a sneak peek kind of into her mentality this offseason.”
Gier also dove into what Swanson’s return means on a larger scale for the league and how the NWSL treats its players who are also mothers. Swanson isn’t the only star player returning from having a baby. The list also includes the Portland Thorns’ Sophia Wilson, among others. The Washington Spirit’s Ashley Hatch could make a return later in the season after initially being listed on the team’s initial roster with a maternity leave designation.
“I think it says so much about this league and where it is right now that, first, players are able to make these big life choices for themselves and, not only come back to compete, but do really incredible things.”
Gier also gives a preview of some of the latest stories published by The IX Soccer, including pieces about the importance of data accessibility in soccer and Barbra Banda’s recovery from a hip injury in 2025.
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