CARSON, Calif. – It’s been a busy week for U.S. Women’s National Team forward Trinity Rodman. Along with January Training Camp ahead of the team’s upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Chile, she is continuing to make history in women’s soccer.
Rodman signed a record three-year contract Thursday with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, ending her months-long free agency. The record-breaking multi-million-dollar deal makes her the highest-paid player in league history and most likely the highest-paid female player in the world.
“It's obviously the best-case scenario for me,” Rodman said, “and I'm happy to be staying at my home in the NWSL. I’m just excited for this season to get started again.”
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes expressed her happiness for Rodman in a press conference on Friday and also highlighted the broader impact of this deal.
“When I see a landmark moment like yesterday, of course I'm happy for Trin,” Hayes said. “But I'm happy for the whole, because it means that the people are investing, one; and two, I'm always about let's keep raising the bar. I think it's a monumental achievement for NWSL. It means it's a league that wants to retain its top talent. I think knowing that she's going to be settled and happy in Washington is going to be a win for the U.S. Women's National Team because, as I've always said, happiness and what they (the players) want is of the highest order to me.”
Hayes has become more than just the National Team coach for players, she is also a sounding board for those in transitional moments in their club careers. USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps mentioned that Hayes helped her in her decision to sign with NWSL expansion club Denver Summit FC earlier this month. USWNT midfielder Jaedyn Shaw also phoned Hayes when the young NWSL star was traded to Gotham FC last fall.
Hayes said she had conversations with Rodman on what her goals were and how this moment can help her progress mentally, especially during this week with the National Team.
“I think Trin has been clear on what she wanted,” Hayes said. “She does care deeply about the impact of the game beyond herself. She does appreciate being a role model for the sport, and she wants to do that in America, and she wants to elevate the NWSL, as do all the players, and she recognizes that being in the spotlight comes with that. I think being settled for any player really matters. And I think having that clarity, now it's about, ‘How do you accomplish your next set of goals?’, whatever they are, and she can focus on that rather than the conversation around her contract situation.”
Rodman’s next immediate goal will be leading the National Team on Saturday against Paraguay (2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV and HBO Max in English, on Universo and Peacock in Spanish, on Westwood One radio in English and on Futbol de Primera radio in Spanish) as captain; a responsibility Hayes shared with Rodman at the beginning of training camp.
At just 23 years old, Rodman has the most caps (47) and goals (11) of anyone on the roster. The squad, which averages just 6.3 caps per player, features five players who earned their first call-ups and are looking to make their international debuts this week. Rodman recognized the unique position this puts her in and how she can lead this young team.
“We have a lot of key leadership players not in camp this time, but for me, it's just kind of connecting with a lot of players because we're all around the same age now, which is crazy,” Rodman said. “Having the experience that I do, but also understanding the nervousness and the feelings of the first couple camps and big games and coming up on a World Cup year, everybody's trying to fight for a spot, but also knowing that you have to stay calm and know that you're going to mess up, you're going to make mistakes, and everybody’s in the same position.”
Another aspect that made the week even more special for Rodman is being back in Southern California. The Laguna Niguel native reunited with her family ahead of her signing, and they will get to see her first appearance as a captain for the U.S. in the match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
“Having my family here in support of me coming back is amazing,” Rodman said. “I get to see them during camp, especially on more stressful days like yesterday. I got some time with them last night, saw my niece and nephew, which is always good.”
New contact. Captain’s armband. Playing at home. It’s been a good week for Trinity Rodman.
