Trinity Rodman’s Status for NWSL Quarterfinal Uncertain

LEESBURG, Va. — Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman has been designated as questionable for Saturday’s NWSL quarterfinal as she continues her recovery from a sprained MCL sustained last month.

During the first 30 minutes of Friday’s training session, which was open to media, Rodman did not participate. Instead, she spent that time in the team’s adjacent gym facility, as confirmed by a team spokesperson. She later joined her teammates on the field for the conclusion of practice.

The prominent U.S. Women’s National Team player was officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup against the No. 7 seed, Racing Louisville FC, according to the league’s availability report.

Earlier in the day, Spirit head coach Adrián González refrained from providing a definitive update on Rodman’s condition. He indicated that Rodman and other players have been assessed on a “day by day” basis and that he would confer with the medical staff for an official diagnosis later that day.

“The only thing with Trin is she’s been doing great,” González stated. “I’m positive that she’s checking those boxes and is in a good spot, both mentally and physically. She’s been very committed to her recovery and is doing as much as possible to ensure she is in the best position. We remain optimistic about her progress.”

Rodman was unavailable for comment after practice. The Spirit enters the playoffs as the No. 2 seed for the second consecutive year. Should they defeat the playoff debutants, Louisville, on Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., they will host a semifinal match the following week against either the Portland Thorns or San Diego Wave.

“We’re approaching this with a humble mindset,” Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt remarked to reporters after training. “We want to fight and we’re hungry. We’re not taking our position for granted; we’re determined to face any opponent with vigor. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

On Friday, González emphasized the importance of maintaining defensive compactness and winning second balls to avoid being caught in transition, which is a favored tactic of Louisville.

Washington may need to navigate the match without Rodman, who has recorded five goals and two assists in just nine games this season. Rodman suffered a right MCL sprain on October 15 during a 4-0 victory over Monterrey in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, a match that secured the Spirit’s place in next year’s continental semifinals.

She exited the field in tears, unable to bear weight on her leg, and was later seen using crutches and wearing a full knee brace. González noted that the MCL sprain represented “the best scenario” after earlier concerns that the injury might be more severe.

Just hours before her injury, Rodman was named to her first U.S. roster in six months. U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes expressed her excitement for Rodman’s return, calling her “one of the best players in the world.” However, Rodman has since been unable to report to the USWNT, having played only one match for the national team since her standout performance in the Olympic gold-medal run in summer 2024.

Rodman has faced recurring back injuries, which limited her appearances with the USWNT over the past year and affected her performance during last year’s playoffs. Following the Spirit’s loss to the Orlando Pride in the 2024 NWSL Championship, Rodman remarked, “It’s not an excuse, but I wasn’t the Trin that I wanted to be that day.”

In March, she expressed concern that her back might never return to its previous state. However, a spring departure from the Spirit for rehabilitation in London allowed her to achieve a more complete recovery.

Rodman made her return to the field on August 3, scoring a dramatic game-winning goal as a substitute. After the match, she tearfully described the moment as one of the most challenging experiences of her career.

“Holy cow, that was just the hardest thing I’ve had to go through with injury and everything,” Rodman said, struggling to hold back tears.

As one of the NWSL’s emerging stars, Rodman is also set to become a free agent at the end of 2025. Earlier this year, she mentioned her aspirations to play overseas, indicating that it was “just a matter of when.”

During the regular-season finale on Sunday, the Spirit had only three healthy field players available on the bench during a 1-0 loss to Utah. In contrast, 18 field players participated in the open portion of Friday’s training session at the Inova Performance Complex.

In addition to Rodman, Croix Bethune (thigh), Leicy Santos (illness), and Deborah Abiodun (ankle) were also unavailable last week.

“We’ve got a big bench now and we’re excited,” Spirit defender Tara McKeown stated after Friday’s practice. “Everyone is ready to go and thrilled to be playing at home in front of our fans at Audi Field.”