Washington Spirit ahead Trinity Rodman made an emotional return to the sphere for the primary time in almost 4 months Sunday, scoring late in a 2-1 win over the Portland Thorns FC.
Rodman entered the match, Washington’s first NWSL sport since June as a result of summer time break, within the 76th minute to a rousing ovation from the house crowd at Audi Area.
The sport was tied 1-1 when she got here on, however Rodman proved to be the difference-maker within the match, pouncing on a unfastened ball on the far put up and smashing a volley previous Thorns keeper Mackenzie Arnold in second-half stoppage time.
A 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Rodman was visibly emotional after scoring the winner. She has struggled with a recurring again harm over the previous yr that has restricted her appearances for membership and nation.
“Holy cow, that was simply the toughest factor I’ve needed to undergo with harm and all the things,” Rodman stated whereas holding again tears after the sport. “So, being again with the group, particularly at residence, with the stadium and the group behind me, scoring a purpose like that — you noticed I buried it. I used to be not going to overlook it. I am simply actually completely satisfied to be again. I missed the group. I missed doing what I really like.”
Rodman’s solely sport for the U.S. girls’s nationwide group because the Olympics final summer time got here April 5. She scored simply over 5 minutes into that 2-0 victory and faked a again harm as a part of her celebration.
However one week later, she was sidelined once more whereas enjoying for the Spirit. She left that NWSL sport April 12 and shortly departed Washington for analysis and therapy in London. Rodman rehabbed individually earlier than returning to the Spirit for coaching in mid-July throughout the NWSL’s summer time break.
“I’ve simply been crying. I simply suppose it was a giant second,” Rodman added about her return. “There was numerous tears of going via the harm, after which simply numerous unknowns. So, being again, realizing that I am again for actual and that the issue’s mounted and now I can simply be again and work on the issues I must and sort of simply get my groove again.”
Final week, Rodman advised reporters that she is “nonetheless going to be Trin,” however added she could be extra conscious of how she throws round her physique sooner or later.
“I am nonetheless going to be intense, and I am nonetheless going to offer it one hundred pc on a regular basis, however I feel there’s components of my sport the place I want to avoid wasting vitality or regulate to sure tackles, and I feel I have been doing a reasonably good job with that to date coming again in coaching,” she stated.
Rodman had beforehand stated that her again would possibly by no means be totally wholesome once more.
Washington coach Adrián González stated forward of the sport that the group could be “cautious” with the way it manages Rodman’s return. Rodman performed via ache in late 2024 because the Spirit completed second within the league and runners-up within the playoffs.
Rodman has developed into one of many NWSL’s and USWNT’s largest stars. She is within the ultimate months of her contract, and he or she advised ESPN earlier this yr {that a} transfer to Europe is a matter of when, not if.
