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Jeff Carlisle
United States of America Women’s national team coach Emma Hayes heralds “new beginning” trinity rodman The forward scored in his second match after the 2024 Olympics on Saturday 6-0 defeat Of paraguaya.
Just days later, Rodman’s goal capped a memorable week signed a new contract with washington spirit According to her agent, this makes her the highest paid female player in the world.
It was his first match for the United States after a 2–0 friendly win in Carson, California. brazil Last April, that turned out to be his only international appearance in 2025 due to back and knee injuries.
“I’m happy for him, I’m really happy,” Hayes said. “As we know, it’s been a tough year. And he’s ready to move on, which I think today symbolizes that it’s a new year. It’s a fresh start for him.
“She’s settled, she’s happy. I think it’s a big weight off her shoulders, not knowing what her future holds.”
Rodman was dangerous down the right throughout the match and in the 56th minute he took a ball from a defender on the right. Tara RuddCut inside and hide his shot just inside the near post. She followed the goal with a dance, which she tried to mirror to Hayes on the US sideline, but failed.
“The whole game, I was telling Tara, ‘Please, play one on one. Come on, we got this,'” Rodman said in a postgame interview on the TNT broadcast.
“And then she had so much time again, and I finally asked for it, played a perfect short ball, cut it back, and then when she went in, I said, ‘Okay, this is my time to shine.'”
The US dominated from start to finish, but the finishing touch proved elusive for much of the first half. rylin turner – who was one of three players making her USWNT debut – converted in first-half stoppage time.
This led to a flood of goals in the second half ally centner Scoring twice and Rodman, emma sears And an own goal from Fiorella Martínez added to the USWNT’s score.
Hayes said the team is basically in the preseason, which explains some of the rust shown by players, including Rodman.
But the match was also notable for the fact that Rodman was made captain. And Hayes said he thought Rodman played well in the 63 minutes he was on the field, as he Claire HuttonWho took over the captaincy after Rodman was out of the match.
“People like responsibility,” Hayes said. “So giving it to them was going to add value to their performance because they care about the team, they care about the pinnacle, and I think [Rodman] Did a great job of making sure we carried on our customs and traditions and it’s always great for the fans to score a goal and sign off like that.
“She knows how important it is to create for our fans.”
America will face chile Tuesday in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Hayes wants to see the team improve on Saturday’s performance.
“I think our volume of possession in the first half, decision-making in the final third and execution in the final third were where we missed,” Hayes said.
“So I think it’s important to focus on that. I think we throw the ball in the right areas. I think just getting that last part right… I also think that part takes the longest and being only a week into the preseason, I mean six goals isn’t too bad for his first game.”
