NWSL Commissioner Vows to Retain Trinity Rodman Amid Salary Concerns

SAN JOSE, Calif. — During her annual State of the League address on Thursday, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman expressed a strong commitment to retaining Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, stating, “We want Trinity in our league, and we will fight for her.”

Reports from ESPN indicated that Rodman has received multiple lucrative offers from teams in England, as well as a significant proposal from a USL Super League team that exceeds the NWSL’s current compensation capabilities. Notably, the highest known annual salary in the NWSL is held by Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Wilson, who signed her contract in March 2024.

In response to questions about her future, Rodman shared that she would make decisions post-Saturday’s NWSL Championship match against Gotham FC. “Genuinely, I’ve made no decisions,” she stated. “I’m excited to be representing the Spirit; my focus is solely on winning this game.”

The conversation surrounding Rodman comes amid broader concerns regarding the NWSL salary cap, which has seen incremental increases, including a $200,000 rise to a total of $3.5 million per team earlier this year. Despite these adjustments, Berman acknowledged there are ongoing discussions about potentially increasing the salary cap further, albeit with no firm commitments for the 2026 season.

“We do not believe the NWSL is a charity,” Berman said. “It’s essential that our investment aligns with our revenue. As we assess the value we offer to top talent, we must consider the overall ecosystem, including training facilities, stadiums, and player compensation.”

Berman also emphasized that while compensation is important, other factors such as competition level, club infrastructure, and coaching quality are crucial in attracting and retaining players. She referred to these as the “four Cs”: competition, compensation, club infrastructure, and coaching.

Rodman acknowledged Berman’s commitment to her and expressed gratitude, but she clarified her current focus is on preparing for the championship. “I started and got drafted in this league, and it has fostered my growth as a player. I’m honored by the support but need to focus on the game ahead. After that, I will have tough conversations about my future.”

Kaylie Collins, the Spirit’s goalkeeper and one of the team’s representatives with the NWSL Players Association, also voiced her support for raising the salary cap. “To compete at the highest level, increasing the cap seems to be the only viable option,” Collins remarked, highlighting the league’s ambition to be recognized as the best in the world.

Currently, Rodman continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during a Concacaf W Champions Cup match in October, limiting her playoff participation.