Trinity Rodman’s contract negotiations conclude with historic agreement with Spirit.
United States forward Trinity Rodman has finalized a new record three-year agreement with the Washington Spirit, resolving months of speculation regarding the star’s future.
Rodman finalized the new multi-million dollar contract on Thursday, establishing her as the highest-paid player in league history with an annual salary exceeding $1 million, and the highest-paid female player globally, as stated by her agent Mike Senkowski of Upper 90 Sports Group.
Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson recently became the first player in the NWSL to secure a $1 million annual contract when she opted into her player option for 2026.
Rodman, Spirit owner Michele Kang, and Spirit president of soccer operations Haley Carter made the announcement on Thursday at BMO Field in Los Angeles, where Rodman is currently training with the USWNT.
“We are all deeply appreciative that she has chosen to remain with us for another three years, despite some very attractive alternatives,” Kang remarked on Thursday.
Considered one of the NWSL’s most prominent stars, Rodman’s future has been a topic of public speculation for several months. She has been without a contract since her previous agreement lapsed on Dec. 31 amid a tumultuous series of developments in the NWSL related to Rodman’s situation.
Sources previously informed ESPN that Rodman had received offers from overseas, particularly in England, which the Spirit could not match due to the limitations of the NWSL’s salary cap. The salary cap was set at $3.5 million per team for 2025.
Washington and Rodman reached a creative arrangement in late November to backload a four-year contract that averaged over $1 million annually, but commissioner Jessica Berman rejected the proposal, citing a violation of the “spirit” of the rules. The league also accused Rodman of attempting to circumvent the salary cap.
This prompted the NWSLPA to file a grievance against the league on Rodman’s behalf. The union described the NWSL’s interference with a legal contract offer as a “flagrant violation” of the player’s free agency and a breach of at least five sections of the CBA.
In December, the NWSL’s board of governors approved the introduction of a new High Impact Player rule, allowing teams to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million for star players who meet specific criteria. This rule had been under discussion for some time but was reportedly expedited due to the pressing nature of Rodman’s situation.
Allowing Rodman to leave for Europe would have represented a significant setback for the NWSL, following the exits of fellow USWNT stars Alyssa Thompson and Naomi Girma to Chelsea last year. The Portland Thorns’ transfer of midfielder Sam Coffey to Manchester City was also confirmed last week.
“Trinity serves as an inspiration to young girls throughout America. She is a player they can connect with, and those young fans are of utmost importance to her,” her agent Senkowski stated on Thursday. “Her decision to continue playing here reflects a clear vision for the future of women’s soccer. She has established a new benchmark for the sport and will ultimately contribute to the ongoing growth and success of the league and its players. I am incredibly proud of her.”
Washington, and the NWSL, is where Rodman began her professional journey at the age of 19, shortly after graduating from high school. She was a highly regarded prospect who had committed to Washington State University but opted to turn professional and was selected second overall by the Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Later that year, as a rookie, she played a crucial role in leading the team to its first NWSL Championship. Rodman scored in the semifinal and provided an assist for the game-winning goal in extra time of the final that year.
A new contract quickly followed: a four-year agreement valued at $1.1 million total, making her the league’s highest-paid player at that time. That contract, which has since been surpassed multiple times for the most lucrative in the league, expired at the end of 2025, leaving Rodman without a club as she was listed by U.S. Soccer upon her return to training camp with the USWNT this month.
The High Impact Player rule remains uncertain. The NWSLPA opposes the league’s authority to establish the rule and the concept of criteria-based qualification. The union filed a grievance against the league on Jan. 14 regarding the rule’s creation.
Teams are working to navigate this uncertainty. Expansion team Denver Summit FC recently signed USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps to a pre-contract for this summer, and general manager Curt Johnson indicated that Heaps meets the criteria and salary to qualify as a HIP player, but it remains unclear if she will be recognized as such.
Regardless, this presents a bookkeeping challenge for the club, and her contract with Denver will remain unchanged. The same situation applies to Rodman and the Spirit.
