Washington Spirit announced Thursday that Trinity Rodman has signed a new contract, ending weeks of uncertainty after her previous deal expired on December 31. The 23-year-old said she always intended to stay and is excited for the next chapter.
“I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said. “I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season, and I’m excited about where this club is headed. We’re chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can’t wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL.”
The Spirit called the agreement “one of the most significant contracts in the NWSL and the women’s game worldwide, reflecting both Rodman’s elite status and the Spirit’s role as a global standard-bearer in women’s soccer.” In five NWSL seasons Rodman has 33 goals and 21 assists in 109 appearances across all competitions.
U.S. outlets ESPN and The Athletic reported the deal is a three-year contract worth more than $2 million per year, including bonuses. Her agent, Mike Senkowski, said the terms make Rodman the highest-paid player in women’s football; prior to this, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was reported to be the top earner.
Rodman, who won Olympic gold with the United States at the 2024 Paris Games, had been at the center of a contract dispute late last year. She and the Spirit reached terms on a four-year deal, but NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman reportedly vetoed it as violating the “spirit” of league salary rules. The NWSL Players Association filed a grievance on Rodman’s behalf.
In December the league’s board of governors approved a new “High Impact Player” rule that allows clubs to spend up to $1 million over the salary cap on eligible star players, provided they meet criteria such as marketability and major-award nominations. The change is designed to help teams retain top talent when competing with overseas offers; ESPN reported Rodman had received interest from clubs in England. The NWSL’s salary cap for 2026 has been set at $3.5 million.