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Jeff Kassoff
United States of America Ahead trinity rodman Signed a record three-year contract on Thursday with washington spirit to remain with the club until 2028, ending months of uncertainty over the star’s future.
Multiple sources told ESPN the deal is worth more than $2 million annually, including bonuses, making her the highest-paid player in league history, and according to her agent Mike Senkowski of Upper 90 Sports Group, the highest-paid female player in the world.
barcelonaThree-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati Was first reported To become the world’s highest paid female athlete.
portland forks Ahead Sophia Wilson Recently became the first player in the NWSL with a $1 million annual contract When he exercised his player option for 2026.
Rodman, Spirit owner Michelle Kang, Spirit president of soccer operations Haley Carter and CEO Kim Stone made the announcement Thursday at BMO Field in Los Angeles, where Rodman has been training with the USWNT.
“It feels amazing, I’m very happy, I’m very fortunate,” Rodman said after signing his contract. “I think it’s a monumental and game-changing moment right now. I can’t even describe in words how it feels. Obviously, everyone will have different thoughts and opinions about it, but I never really cared about that. So, it doesn’t change anything for me.
“I’ve always kind of had a vision of what I want my legacy to be and continue to be. For me, we’re doing that obviously with help, and I’m very grateful for that. But yes, I think it’s just opening up opportunities for American girls with dreams, and I am and was one of them, and so I’m very grateful for that.
“And with the World Cup also being in the United States, it’s perfect timing.”
Arguably the NWSL’s biggest star, Rodman’s future has been a source of public speculation for months. Amid a chaotic series of events, he has been without a contract since his previous deal expired on 31 December. nwsl Which developed in reaction to Rodman’s future.
“Not only me personally but all of us in spirit are very grateful that he has decided to stay with us for the next three years despite some very attractive options,” Kang said at the event on Thursday.
Sources previously told ESPN that Rodman had offers overseas, particularly in England, that could not match Spirit under the constraints of the NWSL’s salary cap. The salary cap in 2025 was $3.5 million per team.
A league source said the cap is expected to be about $3.7 million in 2026 after revenue sharing.
Washington and Rodman had reached a constructive agreement in late November to return the four-year contract, which had an annual salary of more than $1 million per year, but Commissioner Jessica Berman rejected the deal because it violated the “spirit” of the rules. The league also accused Rodman of preemptive salary cap manipulation.
This led to the NWSLPA File a complaint against the league From Rodman. The union described the NWSL’s interference on the legal contract proposal as a “gross violation” of players’ free agency and a violation of at least five sections of the CBA.
In December, the NWSL’s Board of Governors The creation of a new High Impact Player rule was approved Allowing teams to spend up to $1 million over the salary cap on star players who meet certain criteria. This rule was discussed one way or another for months, but according to league sources, it was moved forward due to the urgent nature of Rodman’s future.
“Trin’s contract has benefited from the implementation of the HIP rule,” Carter said.
Losing Rodman to Europe would have been the biggest blow ever for the NWSL following the departures of fellow USWNT stars alyssa thompson And Naomi Girma To chelsea Last year. Midfielder transfer by Portland Thorns Sam Coffee To Manchester City This was also confirmed last week.
“Trinity is an inspiration to young girls across America. She is a player they can relate to and those young fans mean the most to her,” Senkowski said in a statement Thursday. “The decision to continue playing here represents a very clear vision for the future of women’s football. She set a new standard for the game and will ultimately drive the continued growth and success of the league and its players. I am very proud of her.”
Rodman began her career with Washington and the NWSL at the age of 19 out of high school. She was a top prospect who committed to Washington State University, but she made the move to turn pro and was selected second overall by the Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Later that year, as a rookie, she helped lead the team to its first NWSL championship. Rodman scored in the semi-finals and assisted the winning goal in extra time of the final that year.
Shortly after the title, she received a four-year contract worth $1.1 million, making her the league’s highest-paid player at the time. That deal, which has since been eclipsed several times as the most lucrative in the league, expired at the end of 2025 and left Rodman unattached to a club as he was transfer listed by US Soccer. Returning to training camp with USWNT this month.
The High Impact Player rule remains in flux. The NWSLPA opposes the league’s authority to make rules and its criteria-driven qualifying basis. union Complaint filed against the league on January 14 On the making of rules.
Teams are trying to deal with the uncertainty. Expansion team Denver Summit FC recently signed USWNT captain Lindsay Heaps He is up for a pre-contract this summer, and general manager Curt Johnson said Heaps qualifies to be a HIP player based on the criteria and salary, but it is not yet clear whether he will be.
Either way, it’s a bookkeeping puzzle for the club, and his contract with Denver won’t change. The same will be the case for Rodman and Spirit.
“The reality is that a contract is a contract,” Carter said. “Regardless of the outcome of that complaint, we have entered into a legally binding contract with Trinity, and we look forward to meeting our obligations under that contract.”
