What is tennis without its power couples? From Frances Tiafoe and Ayan Broomfield to Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze, and Taylor Fritz with Morgan Riddle, it seems every ace has a perfect match cheering them on from the sidelines. But the latest buzz in the tennis-soccer crossover has everyone talking: Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman, the soccer sensation, have officially confirmed their romance. The announcement sent shockwaves through social media. As Tiafoe quipped, this dynamic duo needs no introduction!

On March 18, Ben Shelton shared an exciting series of images on his Instagram. Amongst the carousel filled with his moments at the Indian Wells Open, he dropped not a teaser but a photo of him and Trinity Rodman, an American professional soccer player, in the elevator wearing matching earthy tones and an adorable picture of her kissing his cheek. And in his bold Shelton way, he announced this with little to no warning!

Speaking to Overtime Tennis on Instagram the following day, Frances was asked about his thoughts on this “hard launch.” He laughed and revealed an interesting but crucial detail, “I don’t think people realize I was like, the one who…” as he gestured to his hand joining together to imply that he was the one who brought the couple together! Calling himself the “Danny Ainge” of the operation. However, he admitted to being surprised by the all-or-nothing attitude of his American compatriot!

Typically, the trend online is to “soft launch” or subtly hint at being in a relationship before you officially reveal the partner’s identity or “hard launch” it. Since Ben didn’t go that way, Tiafoe noted that he was “shocked” by the photo, adding, “Elevator photo? And then you, don’t go tag like letting everybody know who it is. You don’t need to go tag, everybody knows Trinity Rodman.” But does everybody know the American soccer sensation?

Both Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman hail from athletic royalty, making their relationship all the more intriguing. Trinity, the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, has carved out her own impressive legacy in professional soccer. At just 18, she made history as the youngest player ever drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and quickly emerged as one of the league’s standout stars.

With her relationship with Shelton now public and creating a buzz online, Frances was in disbelief at Shelton’s bold move. Noting that the picture came out of no where, “at the end” of the carousel adding, “That was hard that was tough.” However, one can’t help but wonder: Was this really an immediate hard launch?

The answer is a bit more nuanced! While Ben’s Instagram reveal certainly felt like a grand declaration, he had previously hinted at their budding romance earlier in March. The pair even participated in a playful TikTok trend that suggested they were “shooting their shot” at one another.

Ben Shelton’s “soft launch” attempt with Trinity Rodman

Before they made their relationship Instagram official, they were dropping hints like pros. On March 6, Shelton posted a TikTok featuring GloRilla and Jorjiana’s song “ILBB2,” focusing on the lyrics, “They say shooters shoot, Duke Dennis what’s up with you?” The next day, Rodman responded with her own TikTok, mouthing the same lyrics while adding a teasing caption. In their videos, they both referenced “Duke Dennis” in a way that suggested they were “shooting their shot” at each other, with their text overlays matching the number of letters in their first names. This back-and-forth fueled speculation among fans that they were romantically linked

Later Shelton when made it official with a series of photos on Instagram, culminating in an adorable elevator selfie with Rodman. His caption, “I been focused, but I’m steady climbin’, I’m nowhere near my peak,” seemed to hint at his career, but fans knew better—it was all about his new relationship. Rodman playfully chimed in with, “Shooters shoot I guess.” The reaction from his peers was immediate, with Coco Gauff commenting, “Hard launchhhhh!!” and Frances Tiafoe adding, “We gram now.” The sports community went wild, with fans from the NBA, soccer, and tennis worlds all weighing in.

As Shelton and Rodman enjoy the buzz around their romance, one question remains: What makes this power couple so captivating? Is it their athletic prowess, their playful banter, or something more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!