Before kickoff of No. 2 USWNT’s 2-0 friendly loss to Spain on Saturday, former World Cup Champion and USWNT player Crystal Dunn was honored in a pregame ceremony. She was presented with a USWNT jersey with the number 160 on the back for the 160 games she played with the team. Dunn recently stepped away from the pitch, announcing her retirement in January on Instagram, saying that she was stepping away after a "fulfilling" career and is looking "forward to spending more time with my family and being a more present mom.” 

Finding A Way Back After Childbirth

While Dunn has chosen to step away from the sport to focus on family, her teammates Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson are navigating their own transitions as they return to the field after becoming mothers. Their different experiences with motherhood highlight how becoming a mom can shape an athlete's careers in different ways.

Dunn has served as an inspiration for several of her USWNT teammates both on and off the field. Wilson became the 18th mother to play for the team after giving birth to her daughter in September 2025. In an interview with ESPN, Wilson credited Dunn for helping her to feel confident about returning to the field after having a child.

“She is one of the main people that kind of gave me the confidence to know that I could also become a mom and come back stronger and compete at a high level,” Sophia Wilson told ESPN.

While Dunn helped to give Wilson the confidence she needed to return, her experience also shows the physical side of coming back to professional soccer after childbirth. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes understands that postpartum recovery varies for each athlete but credits Wilson's preseason recovery and preparation for her strong return. 

“I think she recovered well after giving birth,” Hayes said. “Everybody’s different in how that happens postpartum. I think she had a really strong foundation, good preseason.”

Despite having recently returned to soccer, Wilson has shown strong performances. Saturday’s game against Spain was nothing different; she contributed to the US’ defensive second half with strong attacks and an earned penalty kick at the 68th minute mark.

While Wilson has returned to the national team, she is just one example of how motherhood can shape an athlete's career. USWNT forward Mallory Swanson made her return to the national team after two years. Swanson also returned to the team after giving birth in November 2025, making her the 19th mother to return in USWNT history. Entering Saturday's game in the second half, Swanson made several attacks and almost got an assist late in the game.

After Saturday's match, Swanson described her return as a learning process, different from recovering from an injury. She credited her support system for her return to the professional sport.

"Obviously, coming back from a baby is completely different than an injury, and everybody's body is completely different,” she said. “So it was definitely a learning curve, but I'm feeling better and better, and definitely have the support that I need around me."

“Obviously, coming back from a baby is completely different than an injury, and everybody's body is completely different. So it was definitely a learning curve, but I'm feeling better and better, and definitely have the support that I need around me.”

Mallory Swanson

No Single Path

In athletics and in life everyone's path can look different. Dunn chose to step away from the field to focus on being a more present mom. Wilson and Swanson both decided to return to the field, continuing their professional career with the confidence Dunn gave them. Each of them listens to their own bodies to make these choices. 

Dunn, Willson, and Swanson show that there is no set timeline within athletics and no one path for everyone. As Swanson put it, everyone's body is different. By leaning on their support systems, whether family, teammates, or coaches, each of these athletes made the decision that was best for them.