“I wouldn’t expect to see Trin starting. Especially not in this first game,” said former USWNT star Sam Mewis while discussing Trinity Rodman’s return to the national team. With the first game of the international friendly double-heard with Brazil just two days away, the Good Vibes podcast host reminded everyone that Rodman’s back injury still needs to be managed.
“It’s pretty clear that Trin’s minutes will need to be damaged,” explained Mewis, because the USWNT star is not fit to go all out on the field just yet. Thankfully, she’s in the good hands of Emma Hayes. The USWNT coach who led Triple Espresso and her teammates to the Olympic gold medal in Paris addressed how she plans to help Rodman give her best while keeping her safe.
“Of course, [I] have to urge a little bit of caution… I think she’s on the right road to that, but it can be quite easy to sort of trigger it. You can go from a position of a managed return to play, to too much.” Hayes told reporters, and that’s something Mewis completely supports. “Very wise words from Emma,” Mewis said on The Women’s Game YouTube channel.
“Sounds like she’s going to manage that totally fine,” the former national team player added. Yet, despite Mewis’ confidence in Hayes’ ability, the coach herself will exercise caution. “I have to try and find the sweet spot in camp to reintegrate her back in the team,” Hayes added during the presser. That’s because Rodman’s safety and longevity take priority.
While the 48-year-old values what Trinity Rodman brings to the table, the young player still has an entire NWSL season in front of her. She has already lost close to a year since the Olympics thanks to that back injury. And the worst part? The Washington Spirit FC forward’s back issue may have just become a chronic problem.
Trinity Rodman’s distressing update
As the USWNT coach calculated the best way to help Rodman shine with her currently limited capacity, Rodman made an upsetting confession. The 22-year-old forward shocked reporters and fans when she said her back problems may never go away. “Honestly, I don’t think my back will ever be 100%,” Triple Espresso told the reporters on Saturday.
It was quite the anticlimactic announcement after Trinity Rodman’s team handed Bay FC a 2-0 defeat. The soccer icon explained that it wasn’t a specific issue but more an anatomical issue. “It’s not one specific thing, it’s kind of just the way that my back is structured. “More so management than like a curable fix,” revealed the Olympian.
It’s especially depressing to hear because the Rodman was on a roll before the injury. Rodman scored 6 goals and 8 assists in 23 matches, won Olympic gold, and almost won the NWSL championship. “It’s tough for me,” the 22-year-old confessed when looking back at her stellar 2024 season and then having to stay put for so long.
However, it’s not all gloomy for the soccer player. “I think we’ve managed it really well, and I’m happy with the progression,” Rodman told the reporters on Saturday. Just because she can’t give 100% for 90 minutes + extra time doesn’t mean she can’t play at all. The USWNT star’s skills are still there, and that’s exactly what Emma Hayes wants to leverage when the time is right.
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