-
Jeff Kassouf
LEESBURG, Va. — Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman is questionable for Saturday’s NWSL quarterfinal as she continues her recovery from a sprained MCL sustained last month.
Rodman sat out the first 30 minutes of the Spirit’s training on Friday, which were open to the media, opting to remain in the gym before joining her teammates for the latter part of practice.
Rodman was later listed as questionable for the quarterfinal match against the No. 7 seed Racing Louisville FC in the league’s injury report.
In a statement earlier that day, Spirit head coach Adrián González remained uncertain about Rodman’s status, indicating they would evaluate her condition with the medical staff later on Friday.
“Trin has been doing great,” González noted. “She’s checking the boxes and is in a good spot mentally, and physically she’s making progress. We’re optimistic and she’s working hard on her recovery.”
Rodman was unavailable for comment after practice.
The Spirit, securing the No. 2 seed for a second consecutive year, will face Louisville at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. A victory would allow them to host a semifinal against either the Portland Thorns or San Diego Wave next week.
“We’re approaching this with a humble mindset,” said Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt after training on Friday. “We’re eager to compete and fight, not just expecting to win because of our position. We want to take on everyone in the playoffs.”
On Friday, González emphasized the need for the Spirit to maintain strong defensive organization and win second balls to avoid counterattacks, particularly against a team like Louisville.
Rodman’s potential absence would be notable; she has tallied five goals and two assists in just nine appearances this season.
Rodman injured her right MCL on October 15 during Washington’s 4-0 win over Monterrey in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, securing the Spirit’s place in next year’s continental semifinals. The incident left her in tears, requiring crutches and a knee brace afterward. González later dismissed concerns that the injury was severe, describing the MCL sprain as “the best-case scenario.”
Just hours before her injury, Rodman received her first U.S. national team call-up in six months. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes expressed her excitement for Rodman’s return, describing her as “one of the best players in the world.”
However, Rodman could not join the USWNT and has played only once since the summer of 2024, where she starred during their Olympic gold medal win.
Rodman’s ongoing back issues have limited her contributions to the national team over the past year, impacting her performance during last year’s playoffs as well. Following the Spirit’s loss to the Orlando Pride in the 2024 NWSL Championship, Rodman acknowledged, “It’s not an excuse, but I wasn’t the Trin that I wanted to be today.”
Earlier this year, Rodman remarked on her back injury, admitting it might never fully heal. Nonetheless, separating from the Spirit this spring to focus on rehab in London resulted in improved recovery and optimism.
Rodman made her return to the pitch on August 3, scoring a dramatic game-winning goal off the bench. She reflected on the challenges she faced during her recovery with emotion after that game.
“That was one of the hardest things I’ve gone through with injuries,” Rodman said, holding back tears.
A rising star in the NWSL, Rodman will be a free agent at the end of 2025. Earlier this year, she indicated her interest in overseas opportunities, suggesting it was “just a matter of when” she would pursue that path.
In the Spirit’s regular-season finale, they had only three healthy substitutes available in a 1-0 loss to Utah.
During Friday’s training at the Inova Performance Complex, the Spirit had 18 field players on hand. Alongside Rodman, several others were unavailable: Croix Bethune (thigh), Leicy Santos (illness), and Deborah Abiodun (ankle).
“We’ve got a strong bench now and we’re ready to compete,” said Spirit defender Tara McKeown after practice. “Everyone is eager to play at home in front of our fans at Audi Field.”