written by Chris Haney January 14, 2021
Trinity Rodman has been selected second overall in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft by the Washington Spirit.
The athletic genes in the Rodman family run deep. Rodman, an 18-year-old soccer player, attends Washington State University and decided fairly late to enter this year’s draft. WSU’s conference, the PAC-12, postponed the 2020 women’s soccer season as a precautionary measure because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Rodman had yet to play a single game for the Cougars.
However, the freshman’s other performances earlier in 2020 showcased her talents on the pitch. Rodman is part of the United States under-20 national team. Last March, she helped lead the United States to victory in the 2020 CONCACAF under-20 women’s championship. The forward netted nine goals during last year’s CONCACAF tournament. In addition, she scored two of those goals in the championship – a 7-0 win against Mexico.
Rodman visited the idea of playing professionally in Europe before making her final decision. Traditionally, the majority of U.S. women’s soccer players play at the collegiate level for four years first. Then they take the next step towards a pro career in the NWSL or in Europe. In recent years, the culture has shifted due to improved professional opportunities at home and abroad.
“As COVID hit, I felt kind of stuck in a way,” Rodman explained, according to the Washington Post‘s Steven Goff. “I know professional is a higher level, and I know I am at a point right now where I could be at that level to get even better than I would be in college. I was like, ‘Let’s just go! I want to get better. Let’s go!’ ”
“Soccer, to me, felt like home,” Rodman explained. “I felt so comfortable playing. … Soccer has always been embedded in my brain and I can’t stop thinking about it. I was just like, ‘I want to go out and play soccer. I want to learn more. I want to play with my feet.’ I fell in love with the game.”
She acknowledges that her dad was an exceptional athlete, and people will often compare the two. But, Rodman is ready to step out from Dennis’s shadow.
“He was an amazing athlete and I got those genes from him, but I am excited to be Trinity Rodman and not just Dennis Rodman’s daughter,” she proclaimed. “I am excited to pave my own path and get better throughout this journey.”