Stars forward Mallory Swanson will miss the start of the regular season as she continues her absence due to personal reasons.
The Stars announced in January that Swanson would be away from the team for the start of preseason.
With the Stars opening the regular season on Friday at defending champions Orlando Pride, the club confirmed on Wednesday that Swanson’s absence would continue. Stars communications staff told reporters on Wednesday that “she is still away from the team, attending to personal issues … she will not be with the team on Friday.”
“She’s one of the top, top players in the world, but the game still goes on,” coach Lorne Donaldson told reporters, per Just Women’s Sports.
“We still have players that we have to just focus on and that just gives somebody else another opportunity to come out and just say, OK, I can do it, because the game is not going to wait for us.”
Donaldson said that he considered Swanson to be “week-to-week.”
“To me, it’s a week-to-week thing,” Donaldson said. “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.”
Swanson, 26, has been a franchise cornerstone since joining the club in 2021. She’s also earned 103 caps for the USWNT, winning the 2019 World Cup and playing a starring role in the team’s 2024 Olympic triumph.
“Club leadership has been in contact with Swanson and are fully supportive of her decision,” the Stars said in January when the forward announced her leave.
“As always, the Chicago Stars organization stands ready to provide Mallory whatever support she needs, both on and off the pitch, and we will be ready to welcome her back with open arms whenever she is ready to return.”
“I’d like to thank the club and the fans for their understanding during this time,” Swanson added. “I appreciate the kindness and encouragement from my teammates and all the Stars staff and hope to be back with the team and playing in front of our fans as soon as I can.”
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