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Trinity Rodman is staying in the United States as the NWSL’s Washington Spirit gave her a record deal for women’s soccer.
Rodman, 23, is now the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world after agreeing to a new contract with the Spirit for an annual salary of more than $1 million, her agent Mike Senkowski told ESPN.
Rodman’s deal keeps her with the Spirit through 2028.
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(Left to right) Washington Spirit president of football operations Haley Carter and Trinity Rodman, team owner Michele Kang and CEO Kim Stone pose for a photo during a news conference at BMO Stadium on Jan. 22, 2026. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
“I’ve made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this is where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said in a statement. “I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season and I’m excited to see where this club is going.”
When Rodman put pen to paper Thursday night, the back-and-forth over her contract ended. She had been a free agent since her last contract expired at the end of 2025, and there was a rush of teams trying to sign the US women’s national team star around the world.
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Rodman, daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, had reported offers from teams, mostly in England. With the NWSL’s salary cap, it was expected that these overseas deals would rival what the Spirit could offer Rodman.
However, both sides began to negotiate an agreement that could be read back. The deal, which was in the works for November 2025. But NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman killed the deal, which was reported to be a four-year contract worth over $1 million per season.
At the time, Berman called the deal a violation of “the spirit of the league.”
Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit wipes away a tear during a press conference at BMO Stadium on Jan. 22, 2026. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
Rodman’s chances of staying in the U.S. seemed slim after that, but the NWSL wanted to keep one of Team USA’s bright, young stars in the U.S.
Thus, the board approved the High Impact Player rule, which allows teams to spend up to $1 million over the cap on contracts for star players like Rodman who meet specific parameters, including on-field performance and marketability.
Rodman was emotional as she signed the deal, wiping away tears after a long process.
“Trinity is a generational player, but more importantly, she represents the future of this club and the future of women’s soccer,” Spirit majority owner Michele Kang said in a statement. “This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment.
Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit answers questions during a press conference at BMO Stadium on Jan. 22, 2026. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
“At the Spirit, we’re building something lasting: a club that competes for championships every year, invests in excellence and creates an environment where world-class players can thrive for the long term. Trinity’s choice to continue her career in Washington is a powerful statement about what we’re building here.”
Rodman has totaled 28 goals and 17 assists in 97 games played over her five seasons with the Spirit, the team that drafted her second overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
