Trinity Rodman has once again reshaped the women’s soccer landscape. On Thursday, the Washington Spirit announced that Rodman has signed a new three-year contract that will keep her with the club through the 2028 season. According to ESPN, the deal carries a $1 million annual salary, making Rodman the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world.
The agreement is a landmark moment not just for Rodman, but for the National Women’s Soccer League and for the broader conversation around player value, compensation, and league structure. At only 22 years old, Rodman has already built a résumé that blends elite club production with international success, and this contract reflects both her present impact and future potential.
“I’ve made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said in a team statement. “I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season, and I’m excited about where this club is headed. We’re chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can’t wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL.”
A Deal That Nearly Fell Apart
The final agreement did not come together easily. At one point, Rodman’s future in the NWSL appeared uncertain, with overseas opportunities becoming a real possibility. The Spirit and Rodman had originally agreed to a new contract in early December, but the deal was vetoed by NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman.
Reportedly, the league took issue with the structure of the contract, which included a sliding compensation scale that would have paid Rodman significantly more in the latter half of the agreement. That increase was expected to align with the expiration of the league’s current media rights deal, a timing that the NWSL believed conflicted with its financial framework.
League officials argued that the structure “violated the spirit of the league,” which prioritizes parity by preventing team owners from outspending one another. The NWSL salary cap, projected to reach $3.5 million by the 2026 season, is designed to keep competition balanced across clubs.
The Players Association Pushes Back
The veto triggered a strong response from the NWSL Players Association. According to The Athletic, the union filed a grievance on Rodman’s behalf, challenging the league’s decision and defending the player’s right to negotiate compensation that reflects her market value.
Concerns that elite players could leave for Europe added urgency to the situation. In response, the league introduced the High Impact Player rule, allowing teams to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million to attract or retain top talent. The rule was meant to stabilize rosters and keep star players in the league.
However, the NWSLPA filed a separate grievance with the goal of abolishing the rule, arguing that it created inconsistencies within the existing collective bargaining agreement. Rodman’s eventual deal represents a compromise moment, one that underscores the evolving financial model of the league.
From Teenage Prospect to Franchise Cornerstone
Rodman’s rise has been rapid and unmistakable. She was selected by the Spirit with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft out of Washington State, becoming the youngest player ever drafted at the time at just 18 years old.
Her rookie season immediately justified the hype. Rodman won the league’s Rookie of the Year award and played a key role as the Spirit captured their first NWSL championship. While Washington has not lifted the trophy since, falling short in the championship match in each of the last two seasons, Rodman has remained the face of the franchise and one of the league’s most consistent performers.
International Stardom and Global Impact
Beyond club play, Rodman has also emerged as a vital contributor on the international stage. She has scored 11 goals in 47 appearances for the United States women's national soccer team, bringing speed, creativity, and relentless pressure to the attack.
Her international résumé reached a new high in 2024, when she helped Team USA capture gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The tournament further solidified her status as one of the most influential young players in the global game.
Rodman’s new contract is about more than a number. It signals a shift in how women’s soccer values elite talent and how leagues adapt to keep their brightest stars at home. For the Spirit, it is a commitment to winning. For Rodman, it is validation of a career that is still very much in its early chapters.