Two MLB stars are set to support their Olympian significant others as they compete on rival North American soccer teams.
Mallory Swanson, married to the Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, will compete for the U.S. women’s national team while Jordyn Huitema, Mariners star Julio Rodriguez’s girlfriend, will represent Canada.
The female soccer stars will both be making their second Olympic appearance when they play in Paris this summer during the 2024 Olympics.
Swanson, who plays for the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars, was part of the U.S. roster that competed in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil but didn’t make it past the quarterfinals.
Despite the team’s early elimination, the forward, who was only 18 at the time, made her mark, scoring her first goal in a 5-0 win over Ireland and becoming the youngest American to score an Olympic goal.
This marked the beginning of a long journey with the USWNT for the young star.
Although she contributed to the Americans’ 2019 World Cup victory, Swanson was left off the 2020 Olympics roster.
In April 2023, during a friendly against Ireland — just three months before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — Swanson tore her left patellar tendon.
She missed most of the 2023 NWSL season but has since recovered and is making an impact this season.
After scoring her sixth goal of the season in the Red Stars’ 3-0 win over San Diego Wave FC on Friday, the Colorado native extended her scoring streak to three consecutive games and moved to fourth in the league’s scoring charts.
The 23-year-old is now poised to help the USWNT secure its fifth Olympic gold medal.
As for her relationship, the Swansons started dating in December 2017, and they exchanged vows on Dec. 10, 2022.
The soccer star put her married name on the back of her jersey in 2023.
Dansby, who is in his second season with Chicago after signing a seven-year, $177 million deal before the 2023 season, enters Tuesday with a .217 average with eight homers and 27 RBIs.
Huitema, a forward for the NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC, made her Olympic debut with Canada at the Tokyo Games that took place in 2021.
She has two goals this season across eight matches.
Huitema, 23, has competed in two consecutive World Cups (2019, 2023) and two SheBelievesCups with Canada.
She and Rodriguez made their relationship Instagram official in October 2022.
While the Mariners lead the AL West, with a 47-39 record, Rodriguez, 23, is on pace for the worst season of his career.
The center fielder entered July hitting .247/.297/.327 with seven homers, 37 runs, and 29 RBIs.
He ended the 2023 season with 32 long balls and 103 RBIs.
The U.S. and Canadian teams both start their Olympic journeys on July 24.
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