Rodman: U.S. Triple…

The trio of the self-styled “Triple Espresso” from the United States women’s national team—Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Mallory Swanson—came together for their first training session this week since the 2024 Olympics as they prepare for two significant away matches against Brazil.

“I am thrilled to have them back, especially off the field,” Rodman mentioned during a video conference on Wednesday featuring all three players.

“Their personalities bring so much joy to camp, and having my sisters back is just incredible. I feel that our connection on the field remains strong.”

This connection was evident throughout their 18-minute call, where the trio frequently finished each other’s thoughts, sharing both laughter and tears.

The last time they donned the USWNT jersey together was on August 10, 2024, when they triumphed over Brazil with a 1-0 scoreline to secure the program’s fifth Olympic gold medal, with Swanson netting the decisive goal.

Both Swanson and Wilson were on maternity leave throughout 2025, greeting their newborns in November and September respectively, while Rodman contended with various injuries.

Swanson has just resumed playing with her club, Chicago Stars FC, in recent weeks. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes emphasized the importance of integrating the 28-year-old forward into this training camp to restore connections with a significantly evolved roster since the Olympics.

Wilson and Rodman re-joined the USWNT earlier this year. If Swanson participates on Saturday against Brazil, it would mark her first game for the national team in 604 days.

“We are still getting acclimated on Day 2, but it’s been incredibly exciting to reconnect and catch up,” Swanson remarked.

The trio accounted for 10 of the 12 goals scored by the team during the 2024 Olympics.

In France, they affectionately named themselves “Triple Espresso,” reminiscing the legendary “Triple-Edged Sword” USWNT forward lineup of Michelle Akers, Carin Jennings-Gabarra, and April Heinrichs, key players who secured victory in the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991.

“It’s a fun name that resonates with everyone,” Wilson said on Wednesday. “We manage to maintain our individuality while blending our unique traits to excel on the field, all the while showcasing great chemistry.”

“The name just happened and then exploded,” added Rodman, as Wilson chimed in with “like a rocket.”

Hayes emphasized last week that “we cannot afford to waste a single minute” in our preparation for World Cup qualification in November and the upcoming World Cup next summer, including the need to reestablish this formidable forward trio.

“We’ve built depth, but these three players have earned their place,” Hayes noted. “We struck gold with them before; they are exceptional talents. We need to start reconsolidating their connections, and I am eagerly looking forward to that.”

Swanson and Wilson are without their babies for the trip to Brazil due to the long journey from the United States.

“Mal and I have been with our babies every moment for the past six to nine months, so it’s definitely hard to be apart,” Wilson expressed.

“It’s during the quiet moments that it gets tough, but their dads are spending quality time with them, ensuring they are well-loved and taken care of, and that’s what we have to continually remind ourselves.”

Swanson fought back tears while Wilson, positioned between her teammates, discussed their children.

Rodman, humorously laying across the laps of both players, offered, “I can be your baby,” drawing laughter from the trio.

The USWNT is set to face Brazil on Saturday in São Paulo, followed by another match in Fortaleza on Tuesday—both cities are also venues for the 2027 World Cup.

These teams last clashed in the spring of 2025 during a series of games in California, where the United States won the first match, with Rodman scoring shortly after returning from an injury incurred post-Olympics. Brazil claimed victory in the subsequent matchup against a more experimental USWNT squad.

“Brazil is always a challenging opponent,” Rodman noted.

“For us, it’s crucial to control the game. They excel at mind games, set pieces, throw-ins, and maneuvering the ball out of bounds. So, maintaining control and dictating play will be vital.”

“They are a talented and aggressive team that always starts strong, so it’s important how we approach them right from the start.”