Forward Trinity Rodman remains with the Washington Spirit with a new three-year contract, ending months of speculation about the Olympic gold medalist’s future in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She also broke the wage record for a female soccer player.
The Spirit announced the signing in a statement Thursday night, calling it “one of the most significant deals in the NWSL and the global women’s game, reflecting both Rodman’s elite status and the Spirit’s role as a holder of global standards for women’s soccer.”
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However, the deal was not without controversy. The uproar over Rodman and the Spirit’s future has fueled criticism of the NWSL’s salary cap and how it prevents the league from attracting and retaining top players.
Al Jazeera Sports covers the deal that divided the sports world in the United States, but has now set new standards for women’s soccer around the world.
How did Rodman’s NWSL contract make headlines?
Rodman, 23, became a free agent at the end of last season after five years with the Spirit. With other U.S. national team stars, including Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, choosing to play in Europe, it was considered critical to keep one of the NWSL’s biggest stars in the league.
Last year, Rodman also attracted interest from European teams without a salary cap after a prolonged inability to agree on a new contract as his previous contract expires on December 31st. Months of speculation followed, particularly that the England team might be at the top of a list of continental suitors ready to meet her wage demands.
What is Rodman’s new Washington Spirit contract worth?
Financial terms of Rodman’s contract were not disclosed.
However, Rodman’s contract is understood to be worth more than $2 million a year, including bonuses.
“Trinity is a generational player, but more importantly, she represents the future of this club and the future of women’s soccer,” Spirit owner Michelle Kang said. “This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment.”
Was Rodman’s trade the first legal controversy in the NWSL?
The Spirit and Rodman previously had a multi-year deal that both sides claimed was salary cap compliant, but was rejected by the league.
The NWSL’s salary cap for the 2026 season is $3.5 million for each team, which quickly brought Rodman’s salary into the spotlight, but it remains an unwieldy sum, but the cap is scheduled to increase each year until it reaches $5.1 million in 2030.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, who vetoed the deal at the time, reportedly believed it violated the “spirit” of the league’s salary rules.
Following the initial rejection, the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association filed a complaint claiming that the NWSL’s rejection of the contract violated Rodman’s free agent rights and violated the collective bargaining agreement.
How was Rodman’s contract with the NWSL resolved?
To address the salary cap issue, the NWSL introduced a “high impact player” system in late December that allows teams to spend up to $1 million above the cap to sign players who meet certain criteria. These included metrics such as minutes played for the national team, inclusion in the 30 Ballon d’Or candidates, and player rankings by media outlets such as the Guardian and ESPN.
The NWSLPA filed a complaint about the rule, arguing that it violates collective bargaining agreements and federal labor law because player compensation must be negotiated. The NWSLPA maintains that the league did not have the authority to “unilaterally create a new salary structure.”
Haley Carter, Spirit president of football operations, said the contract Rodman ultimately agreed to included a high-impact player rule. Carter also said the complaint will not change Rodman’s contract.
What are Rodman and the Washington Spirit saying about this deal?
“I think I’ve always had a vision and an idea of what I wanted my legacy to be,” Rodman said Thursday evening at an event in Los Angeles to announce his new contract. “And for me, we’re doing that and I’m very grateful for that.”
Losing Rodman was a bad scenario for the Washington Spirit.
“I can’t imagine the Washington Spirit without her,” Spirit owner Michelle Kang said of the new deal. “And I hope she can’t think about her career without the Washington Spirit. So this was really monumental and very important not just to the Spirit, but especially to the fans who are expecting to see her. They come to Audi Field, and that’s where Rowdy Audi obviously showed up.”
Was leaving the NWSL a realistic possibility for Rodman?
“The only question I was asked in making the decision was, ‘Do you feel like you’re done with the Spirit? Are you confident enough to say so and leave?'” Rodman said.
“I didn’t need half a second, but I thought, ‘No, that’s not it. I didn’t feel ready to make a different decision.'” It’s like, again, getting drafted here and growing and developing and learning and failing in the spirit of Washington, D.C., is my legacy and a lot of my story. But on top of that, I feel like I still have a lot to give and a lot to do. ”
Is Trinity Rodman the daughter of NBA legend Dennis?
yes. Rodman, who won the Olympic gold medal with the United States at the 2024 Paris Games, is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
She was drafted in 2021 at the age of 18 and earned Rookie of the Year honors as the Spirit won their first NWSL title.
Rodman has since played in 47 games with the U.S. national team, scoring 11 goals, more than any other player on the current roster. She only played in one game for the United States last year due to injury, a 2-0 win over Brazil in April.
Rodman is currently attending the national team’s training camp, which is held each January in Carson, California. The team will play Paraguay locally on Saturday and then face Chile in Santa Barbara on Tuesday.
