Mallory Swanson was back on a professional field Thursday night to throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. The star USWNT forward missed out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a torn patellar tendon in her left knee.
She was in good spirits Thursday night as she threw the opening pitch to her husband Dansby Swanson.
Mal Swanson first pitch at Cubs game
.@USWNT forward @MalPugh threw out the first pitch to her husband @LieutenantDans7!
(MLB x @SiriusXM) pic.twitter.com/hwmmXOvWN0— MLB (@MLB) September 8, 2023
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We’ll give Swanson a pass on the pitch as she’s still recovering from her injury. This isn’t her first time throwing out a first pitch as she has done so with her USWNT teammates in the past.
Her timeline for recovering isn’t clear, but she has posted clips of her running for the first time since she suffered her knee injury on April 8 during a friendly vs. Ireland.
#ChiStars and #USWNT forward Mal Swanson is back running on grass!!
The last update from Chicago HC Chris Petrucelli was on 9/1 and that she was on an antigravity machine: @MalPugh Instagram pic.twitter.com/7JTWpDBpYZ
— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6) September 6, 2023
The future for Swanson is unclear. It’s unlikely she features in another game for her NWSL side the Chicago Red Stars this season. Her contract with the team expires at the end of the season and then she will be a free agent.
Time will tell where the 25-year-old star ends up playing next.