Dansby Swanson, wearing a blue U.S. women’s national team jersey with his wife Mallory’s No. 9, couldn’t stop smiling Saturday afternoon.
After watching Mallory endure a grueling rehab process from a torn patella tendon in her left knee last April and subsequent emergency surgery for an infection, the Chicago Cubs shortstop experienced a range of emotions — from stressed to joyful and everything in between — as the USWNT battled Brazil in the Olympic soccer gold-medal match Saturday in Paris.
Seated in the same spot on their basement couch where he locked in for all of the U.S. games during the Olympics, Dansby unleashed screams and fist pumps when Mallory netted what stood as the game-winning goal in the 57th minute of a 1-0 victory. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher — Mallory’s Chicago Red Stars teammate — allowed just two goals in six games and none in three knockout-stage games.
For 14½ months, Mallory was determined to make it back for the Olympics, and now she owns a gold medal, the first in 12 years for the USWNT.
“This means everything,” Mallory said in the broadcast mixed zone after the win. “I didn’t realize how much it meant. Really just being able to see God’s faith in his work in this moment. I’m at a loss of words.”
Mallory, who earned her 100th USWNT cap Saturday, finished her second Olympics with four goals — tied for second among all players — and two assists. Her 10 shots on target matched teammate Sophia Smith for the lead.
“The support of people that have reached out is just a testament to how amazing of a woman she is and what an incredible accomplishment it’s been,” Dansby said before Saturday’s City Series finale against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. “Just so happy for her. I mean, it’s hard to really even put into words just how happy I am for her and that she’s able to enjoy this moment and able to win a gold medal.
“Her growth and where she is in her life and how she’s been able to handle anything and everything thrown at her — from the ups and the downs and what feels like the mountaintops and what feels like the valleys — and for her to do it in such a graceful way, it’s a testament to her and what she believes in and how she goes about her life.”
The Cubs’ ongoing season prevented Dansby from witnessing Mallory win a gold medal in person. Asked if he considered approaching the Cubs about letting him miss a couple of games to head overseas for the final, Dansby said Mallory told him not to ask, “so I listened.” They spoke briefly on the phone after the gold-medal win.
“I just wanted her to go enjoy it, to not worry about me,” Dansby said. “Go enjoy this incredible moment and just soak it all in.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he thought about whether Dansby would ask for the weekend off to go watch Mallory play for the gold medal and said he would have completely understood the request.
“I’m not sure what I would have (said),” Counsell admitted. “I mean, it has to be hard to be here, frankly. It has to be really hard.
“I think about him watching the games and just like, ‘What is he doing?’ I can’t imagine watching a game like that. That’s probably what I think about most when I’m watching.”
Dansby generally stays off social media, so any fan reactions to Mallory’s goal and the gold medal hadn’t reached his eyes. He just knows what he observed during her incredible journey.
“Just seeing her teammates’ reactions to her and the leadership and more she brings is truly special,” he said, “and I’m just so grateful she uses her platform to be able to shine God’s light through. It’s been a journey that’s really hard to put into words, but I couldn’t be more thankful for how it’s turned out.”
