NWSL Championship: Trinity Rodman looks to end the golden year with a title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman said Thursday that a new team-first mentality has been a major factor in her development as she looks to cap a memorable year with another National Women’s Soccer League title.

Saturday’s matchup with the Orlando Pride marks Rodman’s second NWSL Championship appearance in four seasons as a professional. She provided the game-winning assist in extra time of the 2021 final to help the Spirit lift their first NWSL trophy.

Since then, the 22-year-old has become one of the best players in the world. She scored three goals at the 2024 Olympics and started every match on the front line to help the USWNT win a fifth gold medal.

“I wouldn’t say it surprised me, but I’m extremely happy with the way the year went,” Rodman said ahead of Saturday’s showdown at CPKC Stadium. “I couldn’t have asked for a better Olympic Games. I think the most important thing for me is not to dwell too much on mistakes and celebrate other people. I think that has been very good for my development.

“Really successful players who are developing can get really stuck in themselves and only think about their performance, when I feel like it’s bigger than that. This year I’ve really put a huge focus on being part of a team and learning and growing through the people around me. That’s what I did at the Olympics and that’s what I’ve done here at the club.”

Rodman added that the influx of offensive talent into the NWSL is pushing her and other U.S. internationals to get even better.

“As a forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team and for the NWSL, I obviously want to strive to be the best and I want to be the best I can be,” Rodman said. “So when you have people achieving these titles and trophies, you want to strive to achieve that. That alone I think gives you a boost if they get awards that you want to get.”

Rodman finished the regular season with eight goals and was tied for sixth in the league. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, Rodman’s opponent in Saturday’s final, scored 13. Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga won the Golden Boot and set a new league record with 20 goals.

“It shows where the sport is going and with players like that pushing the game and pushing the players to be better, it just brings more people in,” Rodman said.

Rodman missed the last game between Washington and Orlando on October 6, when the Pride won 2-0 to capture the NWSL Shield. She suffered from back spasms which were exacerbated when she was tackled by Chawinga in a 3–0 defeat to the Current at the CPKC Stadium on 20 September.

Rodman joked that things can only increase since the last time the Spirit was in town, between her injury and the Spirit losing a player.

Washington rebounded to finish second in the league and set a new NWSL record alongside Orlando, with each team winning 18 games.

Three years ago, Rodman was a rookie on a championship-winning team as players publicly called for the removal of former team owner Steve Baldwin. On Saturday, Rodman and her teammates took the field in search of a second title, this time under the leadership of owner Michele Kang and head coach Jonatan Giraldez.

“I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable, but I have a lot more confidence in myself and in the team,” Rodman said. “There are fewer bad nerves and more good nerves. We’ve laid a good foundation and I think we’ve figured out what the identity of this team is and now it’s about putting a nail in the coffin. We have nothing to add at this time. , it’s just a matter of this last match. Everyone is on the same page; everyone is ready to take the step.”