U.S. women’s national team forward Trinity Rodman is staying with the Washington Spirit through 2028. The forward’s previous four-year extension lapsed on Dec. 31, the team announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old has spent her entire professional career with the Spirit after the team selected her in the 2021 NWSL draft. On Thursday, Spirit owner Michele Kang, president of soccer operations Haley Carter, CEO Kim Stone shared the announcement in Los Angeles, where the forward is training with the U
On Thursday, Spirit owner Michele Kang, president of soccer operations Haley Carter, CEO Kim Stone shared the announcement in Los Angeles, where the forward is training with the U.S. ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Paraguay.
“This is one of the biggest moments, for me personally, as well as for the Spirit. I flew all the way from London to be here today,” Kang, who also owns London City Lionesses in England and OL Lyonnes in France, said . “I can’t tell you how excited I am. I had to wait for this for a long time.”
Before this current deal, the club had made Rodman a different multimillion-dollar offer that the NWSL rejected because it failed to honor the “spirit” of the league’s rules, according to sources who spoke with The Athletic at the time.
The NWSL’s rejection of that offer prompted the NWSL Players Association to file a grievance on Rodman’s behalf, the league denied that filing and now could head to arbitration with the union.
It was not immediately clear whether Rodman’s deal utilizes the new High Impact Player rule, which the league introduced on Dec. 23. The mechanism, colloquially known as the “Rodman Rule,” allows NWSL teams to spend up to $1 million above the salary cap on players who meet certain criteria, including USWNT minutes and appearances on various media lists. The NWSL insists the rule was created with the future of the league in mind, but with its timing — in the midst of the conversation about Rodman, one week before her free agency started — sources have said the player was a key factor in its creation. The rule does not take effect until July 1, but teams can start signing players to deals now.
Last week, the NWSL Players Association filed a formal grievance opposing the High Impact Player rule, arguing that it “circumvents the collective bargaining process” and should be rescinded. Players, through the union, also communicated their concern that the criteria “privileges a biased voting system that heavily favors European players” and does not account “for the high impact that Brazilian, African, and Japanese Players (sic) have had and will continue to have on NWSL.”
Rodman’s landmark move to stay narrowly avoids a foray into European soccer after what would have been a short but explosive career in the U.S. that included an NWSL Championship and Rookie of the Year award in the same season, and two finalist appearances. Her impending signing also concludes more than three months of tense back and forth between the NWSL, the Spirit, the NWSL Players’ Association (NWSLPA), and Rodman’s representation about her future. However, discussions over Rodman’s future at the club started as early as the start of 2025.
By staying with the Spirit, Rodman extends her time with the club where she has spent her entire professional career. In 2021, she became the youngest drafted player in NWSL history when the Spirit selected her first (No. 2 overall) at 18 years old. That same year, Rodman was named Rookie of the Year and the Spirit went on to win the NWSL championship. She provided the assist for Kelley O’Hara’s game-winning goal.
The Spirit reached the NWSL Championships twice more in 2024 and 2025, losing both times to the Orlando Pride and Gotham FC, respectively. Overall, Rodman proved an irreplaceable force and a highly marketable icon. She amassed a total of 28 goals and 17 assists in 97 appearances across all competitions with the Spirit.
Rodman’s previous season with the Spirit was plagued by injuries: first a persistent back issue that kept her out of action for four months, and then a minor MCL strain that took a month to rehab. Despite her absences, she still scored five goals, including a game-winner in August upon her return from her back injury, and recorded two assists. She returned to the U.S. this week for her first camp under Emma Hayes since April 2025.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
US Women's national team, Washington Spirit, NWSL, Women's Soccer
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