U.S. women’s national team star Trinity Rodman has given a sober assessment of her ongoing back issues, saying she doesn’t think it will ever be fully healthy again.
Rodman has dealt with back spasms and related issues since her rookie season with the Washington Spirit in 2021 and reaggravated the injury last September, when she was taken off field in a field in a wheelchair in a game against the Kansas City Current.
“Honestly, I don’t think my back will ever be 100%,” Rodman told reporters following Washington’s 2-0 win over Bay FC on Friday. “It’s kind of an issue of it’s not one specific thing, it’s just the way that my back’s structured. And it’s more so management than like a curable fix.
“So I think we’ve managed it really well and I’m happy with the progression that we’ve had. But for me, I don’t think my back will ever be the way it was my rookie year, which is unfortunate.”
The 22-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful 2024 Olympics, scoring three goals as part of the self-proclaimed “Triple Espresso” forward line alongside Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith) and Mallory Swanson to lead the USWNT to the gold medal.
But she has not played for the USWNT since due to injury and acknowledged she was battling the back injury in the Spirit’s NWSL Championship loss to the Orlando Pride last November.
“It’s tough for me coming off such a good season and the Olympics and then going into an injury and now trying to find my place again and find my tole and find my rhythm,” Rodman, who played 64 minutes on Friday before being substituted, said.
Last week, Rodman was called up for the USWNT for the first time since last summer’s Olympics, for games against Brazil on April 5 and April 8.
Friday’s win was the Spirit’s second of the season, the first this year at Audi Field, and moved it up to third in the NWSL standings.
Information from ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf and The Associated Press was used in this report.
