Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman leaves game in wheelchair after back injury

Washington Spirit and U.S. women’s national team forward Trinity Rodman left the field in a wheelchair on Friday after suffering a back injury during the Spirit’s 3-0 loss to Kansas City Current.

Rodman fell to the ground on the sideline in the 75th minute after shielding the ball from Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga.

Rodman was lying on her stomach and held before being treated by Washington’s training staff. She attempted to walk to the bench with the help of two members of the training staff before being transferred to a wheelchair to be taken to the locker room five minutes after the injury.

Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez confirmed after the game that Rodman felt something in her back, but said he had “no information.” He stated that the team had to return to Washington for further evaluation.

The sold-out crowd in Kansas City chanted Rodman’s name as she left the court. Rodman returned to the bench for the final minutes of the Spirit’s loss, which dented their hopes of winning the NWSL Shield.

Rodman’s eight goals this season tie her for fourth in the NWSL with teammate Ouleye Sarr. Rodman is also tied for second in the NWSL with six assists. She is a likely finalist for the 2024 NWSL MVP award.

No player has been more consistent on the U.S. women’s national team since the start of 2023. Rodman is the only player to have played in every USWNT match in the past two calendar years. She was also one of the USWNT’s stars that won a gold medal at the Olympics last month.

Rodman scored three goals for the U.S. national team at the 2024 Olympics, including the winning goal in overtime during the 1-0 quarterfinal win over Japan.

Kansas City’s 3-0 win secured the Current a playoff spot and moved them within two points of second-place Washington. Chawinga scored her league-leading 16th goal of the season, moving her within two points of Sam Kerr’s league single-season record.