Emotional Exit for Trinity Rodman: A Setback for the Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit's star striker, Trinity Rodman, left the field in tears during the first half of their 4-0 Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage victory over Monterrey on Wednesday. The 23-year-old U.S. national team player went to the ground after a tackle along the right touchline, appearing unable to put weight on her right leg. She was helped to the sideline, clearly distressed, and later seen heading to the locker room on crutches at halftime.
After the game, Rodman was spotted on the field in a full-length knee brace and still on crutches. Spirit head coach Adrián González confirmed that Rodman would undergo scans on Thursday, providing no further updates. This setback comes after Rodman had been sidelined multiple times with a back injury in the past several months, making just one appearance for the U.S. women's national team since the gold-medal winning campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Rodman's return to the USWNT roster on Wednesday was short-lived. She was recalled for the first time since April, and U.S. head coach Vanni Hayes expressed excitement at having a healthy Rodman back. However, the forward had been sidelined for four months to address her back issue, and since her return to fitness, she has scored seven goals in 13 games for the Spirit.
Hayes emphasized the importance of a healthy Rodman, stating, 'I'm super excited to have Trin back with the group, but a healthy Trin is the key.' The U.S. team now faces Portugal on October 23rd and 26th, with Rodman's availability uncertain. The collaboration between the club and country to address her back issue has been crucial, and her absence has impacted the team's performance significantly.
The Spirit's victory on Wednesday secured their place in the 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup semifinals, but the loss of Rodman is a significant blow to their chances of success in the tournament.
