Watching Trinity Rodman return from her back injury was really a sigh of relief, wasn’t it? Back in September, a relapse of an old injury saw her leave the game against Kansas City in a wheelchair. Though she was able to make a return in a few weeks’ time, Trin still delivered less than her potential, even missing out on the majority of time with the USWNT post-Olympics. Of course, now that’s the issue of the past following her return. But if you think Rodman’s injury is properly healed, think twice!

Well, there are still some underlying issues, such as back spasms and related problems she has been facing since her initial debut with the Washington Spirit in 2021. While one would hope that things get fine for the talented winger in the future, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Rodman. “Honestly, I don’t know if my back will ever be 100 percent,” said the 22-year-old while speaking in the aftermath of the Spirit’s 2-0 win over Bay FC on Saturday.

“It’s kind of an issue of it’s not one specific thing, it’s kind of just the way my back’s structured, and it’s more so a management than a curable fix. So I think we’ve managed it really well and I’m happy with the progression that we’ve had, but for me I don’t think my back will ever be the way it was my rookie year, which is unfortunate,” added Rodman.

Imagine having a really emphatic season both on the international and domestic front, only to see things get marred due to injury issues. A remarkable display in the 2024 Paris Olympics, including three goals and an assist, saw her wear her first gold medal. She also notched 8 goals and 6 assists in 23 matches to help the Spirit make their case for the Shield, even though they lost it along with the NWSL Championship.

So, despite all this, finding her way back to the pitch must be frustrating for Dennis Rodman’s daughter. “It’s tough for me coming off such a good season and the Olympics and then going into an injury and now trying to find my place again and find my role and find my rhythm,” added the 2021 Rookie of the Year recipient.

Rodman also describes how the feeling of starting all over again has taken a toll on her. She described facing a mental battle of not being the version she was at the time of the Olympics. That being said, she is putting in the effort to find a way around it. “I’m trying to play the role as best as I can and still be effective in a different way as I build back up into it,” concluded Rodman.

Recently, during an interaction with ION’s Lisa Carlin, Rodman confessed that the goal for the next phase of her career is to “Stay healthy for long.” She added that she is still confident that she can score and assist, but what she needs to do is be consistent.

Needless to say, she will be looking for that consistency both with the Washington Spirit and the USWNT. While she is to open her account with the NWSL team this season, she will soon have an opportunity with the national side. That being said, her comeback to Emma Hayes’ side could be a bit tricky for her considering how the coach is choosing to err on the side of caution.

Emma Hayes is left puzzled with Trinity Rodman

The Washington Spirit forward recently made her way back into the USWNT for the upcoming April fixtures against Brazil. Evidently, fans can’t seem to control their excitement of finally being able to witness their star player. However, the problem is that head coach Emma Hayes has still not decided how exactly she’ll transition Rodman back into the team.

“To get (Trinity Rodman) back is really exciting. I do have to urge a bit of caution… it can go from a managed return to play, to too much. So I have to try and find a sweet spot in camp to integrate her back into the team,” said the London-born manager. Sure, the absence of her Triple Espresso partners, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson is one issue.

Yet, the key problem is that Hayes knows that using Rodman to her full potential isn’t an ideal approach. Not to mention the lengthy gap in her absence. Then again, this is exactly what Trinity has to figure out.