Trinity Rodman, a key player for the U.S. Women`s National Team, has revealed that the back problems she has experienced for several years are likely to be a long-term issue throughout her career. She expressed doubt that her back will ever feel completely “100 percent”.
Rodman made her first start of 2025 for the Washington Spirit in their 2-0 victory against Bay FC on Friday, marking her return after a significant absence. The back injuries, which have troubled her since her debut season with the Spirit in 2021, resurfaced last September, sidelining her for almost a month. Although she returned for the Spirit`s playoff campaign, which concluded with a loss to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship in November, Spirit coach Jonathan Giraldez chose not to risk Rodman in the NWSL Challenge Cup earlier this month. However, she has participated in all three of the team`s regular-season matches so far and recently discussed the ongoing nature of her injury.
“To be honest, I don`t think my back will ever be completely perfect,” Rodman told reporters, according to Pro Soccer Wire. “It`s not related to one specific incident; it`s just the inherent structure of my back. It`s more about managing the condition rather than finding a complete cure. I believe we`ve managed it effectively, and I`m pleased with the progress we`ve made. But personally, I don’t anticipate my back ever being the same as it was during my rookie year, which is disappointing.”
This persistent back issue has caused Rodman to miss a considerable number of games at various points in her career, often at inconvenient times. Last season`s injury occurred after she played a vital role in the USWNT`s Olympic gold medal win and during an NWSL season where she was in contention for the MVP award.
“It`s challenging for me, especially after having such a successful season and the Olympics, to then face an injury and now try to regain my footing, find my role, and re-establish my rhythm,” Rodman continued. “I think experiencing such a surge of momentum, and constantly pushing forward, and then getting injured, makes you question where you`re starting from again. Because you can`t just jump right back in. So, for me, the mental struggle has been accepting that I can`t be the same Trinity I was at the Olympics immediately after returning from injury. I`m focused on playing my part as effectively as possible in a different way as I gradually build back up.”
Rodman`s Return to USWNT
Rodman will now concentrate on her contributions to the USWNT, who are scheduled to play two matches against Brazil in April as part of their preparations for the 2027 Women`s World Cup. This marks her first inclusion in the USWNT squad since the Olympics, as coach Emma Hayes opted to give Rodman some rest following a demanding season for both her club and country. Hayes has also been involved in helping Rodman manage her back issues by consulting with specialists.
“She`s been very open to everything I`ve suggested, and she even goes out of her way to contact me, to ask how I`m doing and to let me know they are working behind the scenes to find people who can assist with my back, especially because it`s a difficult injury location, as in sports, you`re more accustomed to injuries from the knee down,” Rodman mentioned about Hayes at the NWSL media day in January. “It`s been really positive. She`s very supportive and considerate of all of us, which is great.”
Hayes isn`t necessarily planning to rush Rodman back into a prominent role immediately. With a long lead-up to the World Cup, the head coach is embracing a period of experimentation and intends to use the games against Brazil to evaluate her less experienced players. However, Hayes openly acknowledged that Rodman might not be ready for an extensive role in the upcoming friendlies.
“We are thrilled to have her back with us,” Hayes stated during a press conference last week. “But of course, I must urge a degree of caution because she has a persistent back complaint. I believe she`s progressing well, but it can be quite easy to aggravate it. You can transition from a managed return to play to doing too much very quickly, so I have to try to find the right balance in camp to reintegrate her back into the team while also managing her workload because she has a long season ahead.”
