Shannon Boxx Opens Up About Her Lupus Journey

Welcome to the Party

Treat Media

Sports

4.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2026

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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. Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Instagram — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ TikTok — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Keep the Party Going: The Lupus Foundation of America: https://www.lupus.org/ The Lupus Quiz: https://knowlupus.lupus.org/ Support Shannon’s Lupus Fundraiser: https://sipandsupportfundraiser.eventbrite.ca/ Ali Truwit WttP Interview: From Shark Attack to Paralympian to Marathoner, the unbreakable Ali Truwit Ali Truwit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alitruwit/related_profiles/ Ali Truwit Stronger Than You Think: https://strongerthanyouthink.org/ Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC -Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/ -Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

Transcript

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0:00.0	I couldn't move. I felt like my legs were in quicksand.
0:03.0	I never had felt that much fatigue and that much pain. And I just started crying because I was like, I don't know, something's wrong with me, like I can't move. If I want to continue playing, especially at the national team level, I can't tell anybody this. Oh, gosh. I'd been holding this thing in for so long. Shows like this saved lives. lives. Like, I don't know if you appreciate the impact you have.
0:23.1	I understand Shannon has a game for us, which I... Yes, this is so exciting. I can't wait. I'm
0:26.8	going to kick your ass, Julie.
0:29.4	You be late. D. D. I said it first. I said it first. I said it first.
0:32.5	Attention.
0:34.1	The party is about to commence.
0:40.2	Oh,
0:41.3	welcome to the party.
0:49.1	What's up party, people?
0:52.2	I'm Abby Walmalk.
0:52.9	I'm Julie Fowdy. I'm Julie Fowdy.
0:55.1	We did that at the same time and we didn't even rehearse it.
0:59.8	I'm Billie Jean King.
1:02.2	Oh.
1:03.6	All right.
1:04.2	Hi.
1:04.6	Hi, Jules.
1:05.6	Hi, Abigail.
1:07.3	We've got a really cool episode coming up because party people, imagine trying to play elite, even Olympic level sports while your own body is fighting itself from the inside out.
1:20.2	And that's exactly what our former U.S. women's national team teammate Shannon Box did for years, y'all.
1:27.7	Years competing at the very highest level with lupus, a chronic disease where literally
	...

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