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Jeff Kassouf
Trinity Rodman, forward for the Washington Spirit and the United States women’s national team, has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 MCL sprain and will be out for an indefinite period. This news was confirmed by Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez on Friday.
Rodman is likely to miss the upcoming matches against Portugal and New Zealand due to a knee injury sustained earlier this week. While U.S. Soccer has not yet officially confirmed her withdrawal from training camp, Gonzalez was unable to comment on whether Rodman would miss time with the national team.
The NWSL playoffs are set to begin in three weeks. Rodman is recognized as one of the top players in the league and plays a crucial role in Washington’s offense, where the team has just secured the No. 2 seed for the playoffs.
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“We will assess her condition day by day,” Gonzalez expressed to the media. “Every player responds differently to injuries.”
Rodman’s injury occurred on Wednesday shortly after U.S. Soccer announced her return to the team following a six-month absence. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes had already expressed her excitement about Rodman’s inclusion in the squad, having last played for the USWNT on April 5.
“She’s one of the world’s best players, and we’ve been without her for more than a year,” Hayes commented before the injury.
During a match against Monterrey, in which Washington won 4-0, Rodman was emotionally assisted off the field due to her injury and could not put weight on her right leg. She was later observed on crutches and wearing a full knee brace.
Gonzalez noted, “She’s starting rehab today, and we feel optimistic given the circumstances. The injury is not as severe as it could have been, and we will monitor her progress daily.”
Washington’s victory secured a place for the Spirit in next year’s semifinals of the regional championship, which serves as a qualifier for FIFA’s upcoming world club competitions.
Rodman’s availability for the NWSL playoffs remains uncertain, with two regular-season games left before the playoffs commence on November 7 and the Championship set for November 22.
Rodman has experienced ongoing back issues for over a year. Her last appearance for the USWNT, in which she scored just six minutes into a match against Brazil, was on April 5, marking her only international cap since the Olympic gold medal match in August 2024.
This season marks the second consecutive year that the Spirit finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs. Last year, they ended as the runner-up to the Orlando Pride in the final.
Rodman had played through back pain last season, expressing in the aftermath of their finals defeat that her conditions hindered her performance.
“Every player’s situation is unique,” Gonzalez reiterated on Friday. “We focus on individualized care for each athlete regarding their training, game loads, and rehabilitation. Our priority now is to assist Rodman in her recovery while we track her progress on a daily basis.”
The U.S. women’s national team will face Portugal in Chester, Pennsylvania, on October 23, before another match against Portugal on October 26 in East Hartford, Connecticut. They will conclude their schedule with a game against New Zealand in Kansas City on October 29.