Trinity Rodman does not just play, she plays with her soul. And when you pack such intense emotion into you, things just can not go right all the time. Look at the yellow card she received during the U.S. women’s national team’s game against Colombia in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup earlier this year. Still, Trinity is in for it. Because she thinks it is what defines her. Remember how she opened up after her father, NBA legend Dennis Rodman, showed up in a 2021 NWSL game?

It is widely known that the father and daughter do not see eye-to-eye. Despite that, Trinity, on that occasion posted a snap of the two embracing each other, as she wrote, “This last game was an extremely emotional one. Yes Dennis rodman showed up to an Nwsl game, but also my dad, after YEARS surprised me at a big game in my career, I was shocked, overwhelmed, happy, sad, everything.” But does being so overwhelmingly emotional make her vulnerable to being tagged as difficult to handle? Seems so. Maybe that is why she took time to dispel the negativity with a heartwarming mention of the USWNT coach Emma Hayes.

In a conversation with The Athletic, Rodman opened up how her emotional side has brought her an unfavorable reputation. “I feel like because I am emotional, people think that I’m not as coachable or approachable in those situations. But I’m extremely open to criticism. I want coaches’ opinions, players’ opinions. I want the people that I’m around, I want to know what they’re feeling,” Rodman said. That is where Emma netted the ball.

Hayes’ arrival as head coach has provided Trinity Rodman with a supportive yet structured environment to grow further. Embracing Rodman’s emotional energy, Hayes has given her room to express herself while teaching her when to rein it in. “I’ve learned a lot, and Emma’s honestly helped me, because she’s made it clear, like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to force you to be somebody you’re not.’ She just says there’s a time and place for that,” Rodman said.

Hayes, in her balanced way, has even devised a “good cop, bad cop” approach, where teammates like Horan, Lavelle, and Smith step in to mediate if Rodman’s intensity rises too high.

“Even with the lack of time she had with me, (Hayes) knew how to say it to me without overstepping in a way… It was really nice in the way that she did it, and just the way that she did it as a coach and a human,” Trinity said of Hayes.

This new coach-player dynamic with Hayes comes at a crucial moment in Trinity Rodman’s career. Following a bittersweet 2023 World Cup journey that concluded with a penalty shootout loss to Sweden, Rodman has used that experience as motivation to elevate herself and the team. Her mental resilience and growth-oriented mindset have established her as a pivotal player in the squad’s recent triumphs and also helped in the win at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Trinity Rodman’s on-field intelligence and game sense are undeniable, especially when exploiting defensive setups like Colombia’s high line. In a recent Gold Cup match, she brilliantly navigated Colombia’s offside trap, setting up a crucial assist to Jaedyn Shaw. “It’s a really dangerous game to play,” she noted, explaining her strategy of positioning and momentum to avoid getting caught. Moments like these showcase her mental sharpness, proving that Rodman is not only an emotional player but a strategic one, ready to take on any challenge her opponents throw her way.

For Trinity Rodman, her confidence with the USWNT truly blossomed in 2023 during a game against Wales, where she delivered a two-goal performance that felt like a “breakthrough” moment. “That was honestly one of the only games where I felt really confident,” she recalls. Scoring twice in a single match wasn’t just a physical achievement but an emotional one, proving she could play with freedom and fearlessness. With such success and a vote of belief from the coach, Trinity does not want her core to change.

“It’s a balance because, for me, I think the emotional part of my game makes me entertaining, and I think it makes me Trinity. I don’t ever want that to change. I don’t want to be a robot ever. I always want to be the player (that has people asking), ‘What is she going to do today?’” Trinity said. Yet it is not the first time Trinity has spoken highly of Hayes, particularly highlighting aspects that often go unnoticed.

According to the mainstay of the right wing, Hayes is extremely serious about her role and is all business when it comes down to it, but there’s also one thing she encourages her players to have: fun. Whether it is in training or on the pitch, Hayes never let the joy die down.

“I think the fun aspect goes a little bit unseen in sports, but I think it was huge for us. In training sessions, even game days, there’s always music blasting [by designated team DJ Crystal Dunn], there’s always dances, there’s always fun. I think that helps us with our success; being one and being together,” Trinity had said about Hayes after the National Team’s Olympic triumph. Indeed, she loves the fun. Look at her ‘Trin Spin’.

Spin like no one but Trinity Rodman

For the unversed, it is Trinity’s signature move that leaves the defenders in the dust and viewers in awe alike. And it embodies the unpredictability that she vies for.

“I don’t know. I just am like, ‘How am I going to get out of this one?'” Rodman had told the Women’s Game podcast in March about her signature move. “And it’s not most people’s first … option. But for some reason, my brain goes to, like, ‘Oh, let’s do a 360 twirl through the legs.’ It’s just, like, ‘That’s the easiest way to get out of that.’” 

Washing Spirit Spirit General Manager Mark Krikorian breaks down player skill sets into four key areas: physical, psychological, technical (ball control, ability to beat opponents one-on-one) and tactical (positional understanding). According to Mark, “In each of those four categories Trin grades out pretty high.” And that is what makes her successfully execute the move.

The “Trin Spin” has roots in the “Cruyff Turn,” the dribbling move made famous by Dutch star Johan Cruyff, who used it to evade defenders at the 1974 World Cup. Among the players Trinity admires is Tobin Heath, a two-time World Cup champion for the United States. Heath is known for her footwork and creativity on the ball, even earning the nickname “Queen of the Nutmeg.”

“You can tell [Heath’s] mind is going a million miles per hour, but when she gets on the ball, everything slows down. She’s someone I’ve studied a lot,” Trinity told Vogue in July.

Most often, Trinity uses her spin during a run up the flank, catching the ball on the sideline, dragging a defender back, and then quickly changing direction. Sometimes, she takes the ball straight into the final third. Sometimes, she uses it to get out of a trap and set up a teammate.

This past summer, Rodman unveiled the move in one of the biggest stages in sports. In the U.S. team’s Olympic opener against Zambia at the Paris Games, she ran into the box and collected a pass in stride. With defenders closing in from all the direction, she used a touch and a spin to free herself and score. It appeared again in the gold medal match against Brazil. But Rodman’s real showstopping moment in France came in a quarterfinal against Japan. she settled a long pass with a deft touch on her right foot, switched to her left foot with a sharp cut and took a curling shot into the far side of the net.

“The biggest thing that’s helped me a lot is I do perform better when I’m not overthinking my skills. Being myself and trusting my creativity … that’s something I pride myself on, being this out-of-the-box player and trying new things. Because when you do pull them off, it is something amazing,” Trinity had said on the Women’s Game podcast. With the breathing space that Hayes has given her, Trinity looks to be the next star in the making.