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On Monday, July 14, sidelined soccer star Trinity Rodman gave fans a glimpse into her not-so-typical summer via an Instagram photo dump that balanced rehab and romance. The 23-year-old Washington Spirit forward, currently recovering from a back injury, shared a carousel of sun-soaked snapshots and intimate moments that all but confirmed that her love story with tennis sensation Ben Shelton is in full swing.
“Not the summer that I had in mind, but still loved every moment ❤️,” she captioned the post. “Can’t wait to be back on the field.”
© Trinity RodmanFrom Physical Therapy to PDA
While most athletes would be bummed to be benched, Rodman’s time off the field seems to have made space for something (and someone) else. Among the photos of her injury rehab were heartwarming shots with 22-year-old Shelton, who just made a splashy run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
In one photo, Rodman, clad in a green bikini, playfully wraps her arms around Shelton’s from behind. In another, the couple kisses passionately, their arms encircling each other against a scenic backdrop. Another shot features the two cozied up in a convertible, with Rodman sweetly cradling the back of Shelton’s neck.
A Courtside Constant
Rodman, who was drafted into the NWSL at 18 and quickly made her mark, has become a familiar face in Shelton’s players’ box this year. The soccer star has been cheering her man on across continents, from the electric energy at Wimbledon to the clay courts of the French Open and the BMW Open in Munich.
© ISI Photos via Getty ImagesLast month, she took fans behind the scenes of their Parisian adventure during the French Open. Her post, captioned “No one else 🤍,” showed the couple sharing a kiss on a Paris street. The tennis pro’s run there ended in the fifth round, falling to eventual Wimbledon champ Jannik Sinner, but clearly, he walked away with a personal win.
Not Just a “Wag”
Despite the whirlwind romance, Rodman is quick to remind fans that she’s not just along for the ride. “Yes, I’m grinding almost every day in pt to get back on the field,” she wrote in a recent reel documenting her rehab journey. “NO, I’m not just being a wag and vacationing :) thank you.”
© Trinity RodmanRodman, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, has always carved her own path. As the highest-paid player in NWSL history and one of U.S. Soccer’s most electric young talents, she’s not about to let an injury or public perception define her narrative.
© Trinity RodmanThe Next Power Couple in Sports?
Between Shelton’s rise in tennis and Rodman’s star power in soccer, this duo is shaping up to be sports’ next It couple. They’re young, driven, and multi-talented.
Rodman and Shelton are showing what happens when two athletes build each other up, both professionally and personally. And while Rodman may be off the pitch for now, she’s already scoring major points in the romance department.
