About this episode

Shannon Boxx shares her journey battling lupus during her soccer career in a powerful conversation with Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King.

This week on Welcome to the Party, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King sit down with U.S. Women’s National Team legend Shannon Boxx for one of the most powerful and emotional conversations we’ve ever had on the show. Shannon opens up for the first time in depth about secretly battling lupus throughout her iconic soccer career, while winning a FIFA Women’s World Cup, three Olympic gold medals, and nearly 200 caps for the USWNT. She shares the terrifying symptoms she ignored for years, the fear of losing her career if coaches found out, and the emotional toll of competing at the highest level while her body was literally attacking itself. The conversation also highlights the larger reality of chronic illness in sports and beyond, including the story of Belmont softball star Maia Johnson and current Division I soccer player Emma Peyton, both of whom are navigating lupus while continuing to chase elite athletic dreams. Plus, lupus expert Dr. Susan Manzi joins the show to break down why autoimmune diseases are so difficult to diagnose, especially for women and athletes. From invisible illness and self-advocacy to teammate support, mental resilience, and redefining…

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