PARIS – It was the Summer of Mal all along.

For the United States women’s national soccer team at these 2024 Paris Olympics, much has been made of new head coach Emma Hayes finding the right formula at the top of the formation in forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson.

Each took their turn as the hero, too. Rodman scored in extra time in the quarterfinals against Japan, Smith did the same against Germany in the semis.

In the gold-medal match against Brazil, it was Swanson’s turn. Her goal in the 57th minute gave the Americans their third consecutive 1-0 victory and returned the USA to the top of the Olympic podium for the first time since the 2012 London Games.

“We both kind of made the same run and I didn’t see her coming until she shouted and then I was like, ‘Oh, yeah she has a better angle toward the goal, let me just get in the box and if she crosses it, I’ll be there and if it rebounds, whatever,” Smith said. “But I had full faith in Mal that she was gonna put that away. ”

Swanson finished the tournament with four goals, second-most behind France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, to lead the U.S. (Rodman and Smith each had three).

“I think this group really just came together from the beginning of our pregame to know, we’ve grown so much,” Swanson said. “That’s really cool to me, seeing that on and off the field. I think most importantly, you’re probably hearing it, we’re playing with joy. We’re having so much fun. I’m just so happy.”

All game against Brazil, Swansons’ score had been percolating. Her speed was an advantage the U.S. had leveraged throughout the first half. Surely, the USA breakthrough would come through the left side. Midfielder Korbin Albert pushed a through ball past the Brazilian back line and Swanson ran into it, full head of steam. A few touches and a patient right-footed kick later, Swanson had broken the scoreless tie.

“I don’t think I’ve processed it yet,” Swanson said. “It’ll probably hit in a couple days when I’m on my flight back home what happened. I’m just so thankful that I was able to do it with this group.”

Albert, who assisted on the goal, was an All-American for Notre Dame in 2022. She was starting in Saturday’s game in place of Rose Lavelle, a surprise last-minute decision by coach Emma Hayes. Albert came off the bench and scored a goal in a 2-1 win over Australia on July 31. She then got the start in the next match, a 1-0 overtime victory against Japan on August 3.