As UWSNT’s first meeting with Brazil in their doubleheader inched closer, fans were excited to watch Trinity Rodman return to action. It had been a long eight months since she last played for the national team at Paris 2024. Yet, clouds of doubt loomed above as Rodman confessed her back may never be “100%” again. Meanwhile, Emma Hayes planned how to manage her playtime.

Yet, despite the hurdles, Coach Hayes was confident in Rodman’s ability on the field. While she may not be at full strength, Hayes didn’t doubt that Rodman is still an “absolute fierce competitor,” on the field. “I think she’s getting back to her best. I don’t think she’s there yet. But I think she’s heading in the right direction,” added Hayes. It took Trinity Rodman all of 5 minutes to prove her coach right and blow away the fans.

“Within five minutes of her first game for the US since the Olympic final, Trinity Rodman finds the back of the net!” the play-by-play announcer exclaimed as Alyssa Thompson’s brilliant assist found Rodman, who turned on the afterburners right on time to avoid the off-side call and slot in the ball in the lower right corner. “Goal, Rodman. Inevitable. #USWNT” commented one fan on B/R Football’s clip.

And that was exactly the mindset with which Emma Hayes approached Rodman’s situation. “I have to try and find the sweet spot in camp to reintegrate her back in the team,” Hayes told reporters ahead of the USWNT’s first match with Brazil. The former Chelsea coach knew she would have to draw the best out of Rodman while ensuring the 22-year-old didn’t strain her back.

It’s safe to say, the Ballon d’Or-winning coach achieved just that. Trinity Rodman also played with the chronic nature of her back injury in mind. The Washington Spirit star had been sidelined for far too long to take any unnecessary risks on the ground. Instead, she waited for the right moment to unleash a burst of energy in front of the goal. It’s just that no one thought it would come within the first five minutes of the game.

Trinity Rodman makes history at SoFi

“She’s Back!!” commented one fan as the NWSL player made her stunning comeback to the USWNT. The goal against their Olympic gold match rivals was Rodman’s 11th goal for the U.S. national team, and it came in a historic match. “The first #USWNT goal at @SoFiStadium has been scored,” noted one fan, highlighting the significance of her goal.

And it’s true. Trinity Rodman’s goal in the first friendly against Brazil was much more than a statement-maker. The forward became the first women’s soccer player to score USWNT’s first goal at the first professional women’s sports event in SoFi Stadium, California. Now, that’s a lot of firsts. What’s more? The Orange County native star made history in front of a 32,303-strong home crowd.

“Calling it now. Will be the Messi of women’s football,” commented one fan, drawing parallels with none other than Lionel Messi. What motivated the fan to draw the comparison could be the 22-year-old’s ability to show for USWNT when it matters the most; like when LM10 led Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Coincidentally, Trinity Rodman and Messi also share a brand connection.

Both soccer stars are Adidas-sponsored athletes who even featured in a commercial as recently as 2024. However, the architect who helped Rodman put on the finishing touches was 20-year-old Alyssa Thompson. Thompson created the entire play. The 20-year-old picked the ball up in the midfield, then cut inside to beat the Brazilian defender before slipping Rodman a picture-perfect pass.

Thompson’s contribution to the goal didn’t escape the fans’ eyes. “Thompson’s ball and Trin’s finish. Sometimes all the USWNT needs is a single shot of espresso with a dash of pink hair,” commented one elated USWNT fan. The play-by-play announcers agreed. “You gotta just love the pink, the swagger, the shot of espresso, and what a ball this is!” they said after the goal appreciating the synergy between Trinity Rodman and Thompson.

This was also a decision by the Olympic gold medal-winning coach. Emma Hayes revealed that she would experiment with the squad, giving youngsters like Alyssa Thompson more space to shine. The coach made another bold move by putting debutant Phallon Tullis-Joyce in front of Team USA’s net. However, Tullis-Joyce proved just the right choice, as she made some big saves to keep a clean sheet in her debut.

And finally, it’s safe to say the goal was a huge confidence booster for Trinity Rodman. The Olympian revealed her helplessness while discussing her prolonged recovery, lasting eight months. Besides admitting that her back injury has become a chronic issue, Rodman explained how tough it was to go from a great NWSL season to Olympic success to a disastrous injury.

Yet, with that historic goal, Rodman proved to herself that despite the limitations, she’s still got what it takes. Now, tell us what you thought of returning the USWNT star’s epic goal in the comments.