From Lynn Williams’ one-legged red sleeve to Trinity Rodman‘s pink braids, the USWNT stars made quite the style statements before they clinched the Olympic gold in Paris. Among these, Rodman’s braids were the internet’s favorite. The 22-year-old’s hair color reminded many fans of Megan Rapinoe‘s pink hair from the 2019 World Cup. That was when the US team won a major international honor before the 2024 Olympic gold. After the USA’s Olympic success, many fans even think the pink hair is the American side’s lucky charm in big tournaments. Rodman also thinks along those lines, it seems.

Before Team USA’s gold medal game, Trinity Rodman revealed she saw the ‘pink hair memes’ comparing her and Megan Rapinoe. The Washington Spirit star also said she discussed the pink hair with the USWNT legend and decided to dye hair to keep that tradition alive. “We got to see Pinoe [Rapinoe], so I talked to her about that. I guess we need some color somewhere and pink’s been the color — pink, purple, whatever,” said Trinity Rodman, as compiled by People. Thereafter, she said she had to walk in Rapinoe’s footsteps as if the pink hair enhanced Team USA’s luck on big stages.

“So yeah, I guess we’ve got to continue that moving forward,” Rodman continued. We don’t know if the 22-year-old pink braids were the lucky charm for Team USA. But the pink-haired striker could not have asked for better success in the Olympics. She scored three goals in the Summer Games, including an extra-time strike in the semi-final, that took the USWNT to the final against Brazil. After finishing the final game in style, Rodman thought the pink hair’s job was done. The Washington star took to Instagram stories and revealed she has cut her stylish braids.

Since Megan Rapinoe’s style choice has become a favorite tradition in the US camp lately, let’s see what hair colors mean to the retired US legend. For her, it’s more than a style statement.

Hair color means confidence and diversity to Megan Rapinoe

Pink-haired Megan Rapinoe’s run in the 2019 World Cup is among the greatest chapters in the USWNT lore. Having scored six goals in the competition, FIFA chose Rapinoe as its MVP before she lifted her second World Cup trophy. During the big win, the 39-year-old detailed how her hair color stood for the diversity within the USWNT. “We got pink hair and purple hair. We have tattoos and dreadlocks, we got white girls and black girls. And everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls,” said Rapinoe in 2019.

Megan Rapinoe once again showed up with dyed hair, this time in the 2023 World Cup. It wasn’t pink or purple. She used a light blue shade during the tournament in Australia. Rapinoe revealed that ‘looking good’ has always been her priority and it boosted her confidence to perform well on the field. Truly, the pink hair helped her. But the time was quite abysmal for Rapinoe when she had the blue hair. The USWNT bowed out of the WC in the Round of 16, with Rapinoe sending her penalty way off the post.

Anyhow, Trinity Rodman and Co.’s big Olympic win has brought the USWNT back to the epicenter of global soccer. And hair dyes regained a lucky charm’s status after the World Cup washout.