Why a 23-Year-Old Forward Is Fueling the Washington Spirit’s Playoff Push
With playoffs in sight and various anxieties rising about who will make the cut, good news only continues to arise for the Washington Spirit. Right now, Washington stands in second place in the NWSL bracket with a total of 37 points. To secure a spot for the playoffs, they must win their upcoming match against the Houston Dash, and Trinity Rodman may be what they need to do it. After an extensive leave due to an ongoing back injury that nearly took her out of the 2025 NWSL season, Rodman’s return has proved that she has nothing but fire and passion under her feet.
Rodman is a beloved player by all for various reasons. On social media, many are overjoyed to hear about her supportive and loving relationship with Ben Shelton. While on the pitch, Rodman is known and loved as an all-star forward for the Washington Spirit. It is because of this that many were saddened to hear about Rodman’s medical leave of absence back in April. Though many were aware of her recurring pain, the Washington Spirit made a public announcement explaining that she would be placed on leave until she felt “healthy” enough to return. In an interview with 7News, Rodman shared that, “This season has been different than every other season that I have looked like for me. The hardest part was getting up every day and knowing I wasn’t going to be playing a game on the weekend.” However, now she's back and continues proving to everyone and the NWSL that she is still that same all-star forward.
Since her return in August, she has secured various goals for Washington against teams like the Seattle Reign, Angel City, and even against the Portland Thorns in her first game back in the NWSL. It was in that game that she was substituted at the end of the second half and scored the winning goal, ending the match in a 2-1 victory for Washington. Rodman is without a doubt one of the most notable young forwards in the NWSL and the USWNT. Her quick and fiery return to the NWSL has only proved her immense drive and the hard work she has dedicated to ensuring that she returns at this level. Her current and passionate tone of play has motivated the Washington Spirit and encouraged fans to start preparing for the playoffs. It all comes down to tonight’s game against the Houston Dash, where the Washington Spirit is favored to win, but as that approaches, Trinity Rodman’s resilience and renewed energy may be the very spark that will help carry the Spirit toward another triumph season.
