The CPKC stadium holds some bittersweet memories for Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman. After watching her side lose 0-1 to Orlando Pride in the NWSL title showdown, the defeat was particularly tough for Rodman, whose post-match comments reflect on how tough the journey has been. 

“I wasn’t the Trin I wanted to be today,” admitted Rodman. “It’s no secret that I was fighting through back issues pretty much since I got back from the Olympics. Not ideal, but again, that’s no excuse.” Rodman has been vital to the Spirit, as her 8 goals and 6 assists helped them reach playoff spots, a feat that did not look possible at the start of the regular season. 

The last time the 22-year-old played at the CPKC stadium, she was tackled by Temwa Chawinga, during the match against KC Current. The challenge saw Rodman suffer a back injury and was forced to leave the field in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, her redemption arc was spoiled by Barbra Banda. 

The Zambian broke the deadlock for Orlando in the 37th minute, marking her fourth goal of the playoff. While Washington had more of the ball, Seb Hine’s backline put in a solid defensive performance, especially goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. Soccer icon Marta led the celebrations for her team, with many speculating that this may be her last dance!

(More to follow on EssentiallySports…)