Shannon Boxx Opens Up About Her Lupus Journey

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 strength, this episode is honest, eye-opening, and deeply inspiring.

Also in this episode:
Abby and Julie reflect on their years traveling the world with the USWNT
The crew talks Olympic-level competition while living with chronic illness
Shannon shares the adjustments that helped extend her legendary career
A hilarious lupus awareness trivia game breaks out at the party
And the team announces the launch of the brand new Welcome to the Party Substack

This is a conversation about perseverance, advocacy, friendship, and what it really means to keep showing up when no one sees the battle you’re fighting.

00:00:00 Shannon Boxx Hid Lupus for Years
00:00:49 Why Lupus Awareness Matters
00:02:26 The Athlete Everyone Should Know: Maia Johnson
00:06:29 Abby & Julie’s Favorite USWNT Travel Memories
00:09:24 Shannon Boxx Joins the Party
00:12:12 Shannon Reveals Her First Lupus Symptoms
00:16:00 Why She Hid Her Diagnosis From Coaches & Teammates
00:24:45 The Adjustments That Extended Shannon’s Career
00:29:29 Emma Peyton & Dr. Susan Manzi on Living With Lupus
00:49:00 The Lupus Awareness Quiz Gets Competitive

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Keep the Party Going:

The Lupus Foundation of America: lupus.org

The Lupus Quiz:knowlupus.lupus.org

Support Shannon’s Lupus Fundraiser: sipandsupportfundraiser.eventbrite.ca
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Ali Truwit Instagram: instagram.com/alitruwit/related_profiles

Ali Truwit Stronger Than You Think: strongerthanyouthink.org

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