2024 was quite a bittersweet year for Trinity Rodman. While the forward was lucky to secure gold with the US Women’s National Team at the Paris Olympics, her domestic journey proved successful yet failed at the same time. But talk about being undeterred, as Rodman has optimistically described last season as a year of “growth.”

One doesn’t need to be reminded how close the daughter of Dennis Rodman came to domestic glory. Though Trinity’s eight goals and six assists in over 26 matches proved crucial for the Spirit’s last season, the DC-based club ultimately faced setbacks, not once but twice. First, they lost the NWSL Shield to Orlando Pride after finishing second in the regular season with a 4-point deficit.

Coincidentally, they again faced Pride in the Championship final but lost by a narrow score. While it would seem Rodman gave her everything for nothing, that’s the least of what she’s thinking. “I think to sum up last year, I would say a growth, mindset, and playing with confidence,” began Rodman while speaking to The Mirror US.

The 22-year-old praised the Spirit for growing with each game, that too, with many rookies in the lineup while navigating the fast-paced nature of the season. Not to mention an international tournament like the Olympics that was held in the middle of the season. “We didn’t have any other choice but to kind of learn quickly and I think we had a lot of success, but we were playing with confidence while also being humble in that and knowing that we have to learn,” emphasized Rodman.

In a nutshell, she has somehow adapted and learned to navigate the challenges around her. She also emphasized the symmetry between humility and a strong desire to learn. “I felt like I played one of my best seasons last year, but also I grew a lot and I learned a lot. So I think the balance between the two was the best,” concluded Rodman.

It’s wonderful to see how Trinity has learned from the highs and lows of the past season. With the 2025 season just around the corner, she has already begun preparations. However, an unfortunate update regarding her international involvement also puts her domestic arrangements at risk.

Trinity Rodman’s absence; USWNT duty, NWSL kick-off at potential risk

The Newport Beach, California native didn’t make the cut in the upcoming SheBelieves Cup tournament. That’s because the forward is still dealing with her back issues. To remind you, Rodman has been dealing with this injury since her rookie season in 2021. Unfortunately, it somehow flared up again last year back in September, just after the Olympics. The Spirit forward left the pitch in a wheelchair while facing the KC Current.

Though Rodman had missed two season matches, she managed to make a return in time for the NWSL playoffs. But the truth of the matter is that the starlet herself admitted to having played through pain. In fact, after the final, the winger even admitted, “I wasn’t the Trin that I wanted to be today.”

Then again, last month, Rodman mentioned that her back is doing better thanks to the rest she received in the offseason. But she is still taking it one step at a time through her recovery. “I feel good, I feel better than I was… Just focused on building that slowly and not just jumping right back into things and doing it the right way,” she said while addressing the NWSL media day.

This simply means that Rodman is still on her path to recovery. The only thing that fans can hope for, is to see the forward make her return to the pitch hale and healthy.