Hayes: Rodman’s recent contract is beneficial for the NWSL and USWNT
Emma Hayes, the coach of the United States, has praised Trinity Rodman’s groundbreaking agreement to remain with the Washington Spirit, calling it “a win” for both the U.S. women’s national team and the NWSL.
The Spirit revealed the signing of a three-year contract on Thursday, putting an end to the widely discussed uncertainty regarding Rodman’s future amid lucrative offers from European clubs.
According to sources, the contract is valued at over $2 million per year, including bonuses, making her the highest-paid player in the history of the league.
“I will always celebrate significant milestones for women’s sports, and I am fully supportive of progress and investment,” Hayes stated to reporters on Friday, prior to the USWNT’s friendly match against Paraguay.
“I have mentioned this repeatedly: the women’s game has not received the same level of equity and access to resources to develop as it should, for many reasons. Therefore, when I witness a landmark moment like yesterday, I am not only pleased for Trin but also for the entire community.
“This is a significant accomplishment for the NWSL, indicating that it is a league that aims to retain its top talent. You cannot solely focus on attracting talent; you must also retain it.
“I believe it is truly remarkable for the NWSL to have secured Trinity Rodman, and knowing that she will be settled and content in Washington will be beneficial for the U.S. women’s national team, as I have always emphasized that their happiness and desires are of utmost importance to me.”
The prolonged contract negotiations surrounding the sought-after forward raised questions about the salary cap restrictions within the NWSL, which has seen several prominent American players move to Europe for more lucrative contracts.
In response to Rodman’s potential departure, the league implemented a “High Impact Player” rule that permits teams to allocate more funds toward top talent, although this initiative faces challenges following a grievance filed by the NWSL Players Association against the rule.
However, for Hayes, the resolution of Rodman’s future is solely advantageous for the player.
“I want Trin to focus solely on being Trin the football player while she is here, and to concentrate on being part of the team,” the U.S. coach remarked. “I think Trin has been clear about her desires … she is concerned about the impact of the game beyond her own interests. She values being a role model for the sport, and she aims to do that in America while elevating the NWSL.”
After mentioning earlier in the week that she has been assigning more responsibilities to the 23-year-old Rodman during this camp, Hayes announced on Friday that Rodman will serve as captain for the USWNT in Saturday’s friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
“I informed Trin at the start of camp that she would be the captain for the first game,” she said. “We discussed the expectations regarding this role in front of the group, along with all the finer details we were looking for.”
Regarding the rest of the roster, Hayes indicated that the January camp, which includes an additional friendly against Chile on January 27, will serve as a testing phase before preparations for the 2027 World Cup qualification.
“We have at least 17 potential players that I believe will be in contention for the SheBelieves Cup in March who are not present here,” Hayes added. “Which six to eight players from this group will compete to join that, in addition to some from the current roster who I think were part of that 17 or 18.
“With this in mind, we need to provide ample opportunities for any player not here to understand my message that this is not finalized, but we must advance with a core group, which is what SheBelieves will focus on.”
During Friday’s press conference, the U.S. coach also inadvertently disclosed that Japan will be an upcoming opponent, with an official announcement expected this weekend.
