Trinity Rodman, a prominent player for the U.S. women’s national team, has expressed her desire to play in Europe in the future. This move would follow the trend of many of her international teammates who have also transitioned to European leagues.
Rodman has played her entire professional career with the Washington Spirit since being drafted in 2021, after deciding to forgo college. She quickly became a key player for the team, earning the Rookie of the Year award and contributing to the Spirit’s NWSL Championship victory in 2021. In 2024, she was also nominated for the MVP award as the Spirit competed for the Championship.
Rodman stated, “I’ve always considered playing overseas at some point in my career. I think I would regret it if I retired without experiencing it.” She added, “So, it’s really just a question of when I feel the time is right. For now, my focus is on this season, and we’ll see what the future holds.”
The Olympic gold medalist is currently playing for the Spirit this season. She recently missed a Challenge Cup game due to a recurring back injury.
Rodman is currently in the final year of her contract with the Spirit, which is valued at $1.1 million. The contract also includes an option for the 2026 season. It has been reported that clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal showed interest in signing her during the winter transfer window, although it’s not confirmed if any formal offers were made.
USWNT Players in Europe
If Rodman decides to move to Europe, she would join several other USWNT players who have recently made similar moves. Naomi Girma joined Chelsea from San Diego Wave for a record-breaking transfer fee in women’s soccer. Crystal Dunn and Jenna Nighswonger also moved to Europe, joining Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal respectively from NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Currently, four other USWNT players who participated in the recent SheBelieves Cup play for European clubs: Lindsey Heaps (Lyon), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Lily Yohannes (Ajax), and Korbin Albert (PSG). Emily Fox moved from North Carolina Courage last year, while Lindsey Heaps has been with Lyon since 2022. Yohannes and Albert have spent their entire professional careers with their current European clubs.
History of USWNT in European Leagues
Historically, many USWNT players have played for European clubs, often taking advantage of periods between major tournaments like the World Cup and Olympics. This year marks the beginning of a new four-year cycle, and Girma, Dunn, and Nighswonger are among those who have used the post-Olympics period to explore opportunities in Europe. Previously, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd moved to Lyon and Manchester City in 2017.
Timing has played a role in facilitating moves to Europe for USWNT players in other situations as well. Megan Rapinoe played for Lyon in 2013 before returning to the NWSL. Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle joined Manchester City in 2020 when the NWSL schedule was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All of these players eventually returned to the NWSL after their stints in Europe, with none of the mentioned players staying for more than a season during those initial moves.
However, players like Heaps and Fox are opting to stay in Europe for longer periods. A recent agreement in 2021, during the USWNT’s fight for equal pay, changed the financial structure. U.S. Soccer is no longer directly paying USWNT players’ NWSL salaries. This change has allowed for club contracts for USWNT players to become more comparable to those in Europe and men’s soccer, providing greater freedom for players to move internationally.
