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 American 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 in the elevator wearing matching earthy tones and 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 Aids” 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, at just 18, 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 nowhere, “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 revelation certainly felt like a grand declaration, he had previously hinted at their budding romance earlier in March.

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

On March 5th, Rodman fueled speculation by posting a TikTok video featuring the song ‘ILBB2’. The caption, ‘_ _ _ wassup w you,’ with three blanks, seemed to be a direct message. Notably, the three blanks correspond to the name ‘Ben.’

Shelton responded by creating his own TikTok video, replying with ‘T _ _ _ _ _ _ wsp with you,’ six blanks beginning with ‘T’, clearly spelling out ‘Trinity.’ This exchange, with the matching letter counts, strongly suggested a playful, coded flirtation between the two. The rumors were later confirmed when Shelton shared a series of Instagram photos, making their relationship official.

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.

With Shelton gearing up for the Miami Open and Rodman preparing for the Washington Spirit’s clash with the Kansas City Current, the spotlight remains on their blossoming romance. The question on everyone’s mind is: what’s the secret to their captivating appeal? Is it their impressive athleticism, their engaging banter, or a combination of factors? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!