American women’s soccer fans can be forgiven for feeling a little nervous before the game. Paris Games.
Last year, the U.S. Women’s National Team exited the World Cup earlier than ever, not even making it to the quarterfinals after a 5-4 loss to Sweden in the round of 16. And some of the team’s longtime superstars, including Alex Morgan and now retired Megan Rapinoeare absent from this year’s Olympic roster.
But the team has a new coach, Emma Hayes, and a lot of young talent.nine players The 2024 roster includes first-time Olympians — that was on full display at the Paris Games. Among the most notable is 22-year-old Trinity Rodman, the pink-braided forward whose incredible overtime goal against Japan (watch here) put Team USA ahead 1-0 to advance to the semifinals. This means they will play for a medal.
Here are nine things you should know about the Washington Spirit pro before Team USA takes the field in Paris.
1. Rodman’s father is also a somewhat famous athlete.
If you thought you recognized her last name, you’re absolutely right. Rodman is the youngest son of Dennis Rodman, the NBA player known for his rebounding skills and colorful hair who helped the Chicago Bulls win their second championship three peats from 1996 to 1998.
Rodman’s mother is Dennis’ third wife, Michelle Moyer, who also had a son with the basketball star (Rodman’s brother, Dennis “DJ” Jr.). While Rodman can thank his father for some of his athletic genes, their relationship has been rocky. “We don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. I go months, if not years, without him being around or communicating,” she says. he wrote on Instagram in 2021 when he surprised her by showing up at one of her games.
Moyer essentially raised Rodman and his brother alone, according to People, and Rodman calls his mother Super hero and “the most incredible woman in this world planet.” But she is inspired by her father’s athleticism and mindset and said she has learned a lot from his example. When asked by ESPN in 2023 if there was anything she would tell him, she he said: “Thank you for teaching me the mistakes that can be made in the spotlight. I guess it’s hard to see the downfalls that come with it, along with him not being in my life. But he’s my dad and I love him.”
2. She committed to college but never played in the NCAA.
Her soccer journey started early. Rodman began playing at the age of four, and although she also dabbled in basketball, soccer quickly stole her heart, according to NBC Olympics. She grew up in Newport Beach, California, and played nine years on a club team called Southern California Blues.
After graduating from JSerra Catholic High School, she first committed to UCLA, then decommitted and Registered at Washington State University (where his brother played college basketball before transferring to University of Southern California). But then the COVID-19 pandemic intervened, canceling college sports.
3. Instead, she joined the Washington Spirit as the youngest player ever to be drafted into the NWSL.
By 2020, Rodman was already a star on the United States youth national teams — she played three matches during the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay and scored nine goals in his career for the under-20 team.