Trinity Rodman is not just the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman. She is also a talented and ambitious soccer player who has made history as the youngest drafted player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and a vital member of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).
From Hunting Rebounds to Hunting Goals
Trinity Rodman was born in Newport Beach, California, in 2002. Her mother is Michelle Moyer, who married Dennis Rodman in 2003 and divorced him in 2012. Trinity and her brother, DJ Rodman, who plays basketball at USC, were primarily raised by their mother in southern California.
Trinity started playing soccer at age four and soon fell in love. She said soccer “felt like home” as young as seven or eight. She learned from her father how to “hunt” for opportunities on the field, whether scoring goals, winning back possession, or creating chances for her teammates. She watched clips of her father’s rebounding skills and applied them to her game.
“He was so intelligent,” she said of her father. “It was timing; it was anticipation. It was body movement. It was positioning. It was everything.”
A Star in the Making
Rodman played for SoCal Blues, a prestigious youth soccer club, where she won four national championships and maintained a five-year undefeated streak. She also played for the U.S. youth national teams, where she impressed with her speed, skill, and versatility. She can play as a forward, a winger, or a midfielder, and she can score with both feet and her head.
Rodman initially committed to playing college soccer for UCLA, but she changed her mind and followed her brother to Washington State. However, she never played a college game, as her freshman season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to turn pro instead and entered the 2021 NWSL College Draft.
Making History in the NWSL
At age 18, Rodman became the youngest player ever drafted in the NWSL when the Washington Spirit selected her as their first pick (second overall) in the 2021 draft. She signed the league’s first million-dollar contract and immediately impacted the field. She scored a goal in her debut five minutes after coming off the bench and scored 13 goals in 47 appearances for the Spirit in her first season.
She earned the NWSL Rookie of the Year award, the NWSL Best XI selection, and the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year honor for her stellar performance. She also helped the Spirit win their first NWSL championship, scoring a crucial goal in the semifinal against the Chicago Red Stars.
Aiming for Glory with the USWNT
Rodman’s success in the NWSL caught the attention of the USWNT head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, who called her up for the first time in January 2022. She made her international debut in a friendly against Colombia, becoming the second-youngest player to debut for the USWNT.
She quickly established herself as a regular in the squad, scoring seven goals in 28 appearances for the USWNT. She was named to the 23-player roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she hopes to help the USWNT win their third consecutive title.
She scored both goals in the USWNT’s 2-0 win over Wales in the World Cup send-off game, showing her hunting instincts and clinical finishing. She is expected to play a vital role in the USWNT’s attack, either as a starter or a super-sub.
More Than Her Famous Last Name
Trinity Rodman is proud of her father and his legacy but is determined to make her name in soccer. She said she wants to be known as “Trinity Rodman, not just as Dennis Rodman’s daughter.”
She has shown that she has the talent, the work ethic, and the personality to be a star in her own right. She is confident, ambitious, and humble, and she enjoys playing with a smile on her face. She is also a role model for young girls who aspire to play soccer at the highest level.
Trinity Rodman is not just the youngest and the brightest in women’s soccer. She is also the future of the sport.
Originally posted 2023-12-12 20:31:47.
