US Women`s National Team standout Trinity Rodman has acknowledged that the back issues she has experienced for several years are likely to be a long-term concern throughout her career. She expressed doubt about ever regaining complete fitness in her back.
Rodman made her first start of 2025 for the Washington Spirit in their 2-0 victory against Bay FC on Friday, marking her return after a period away from the field. Her back problems, which began during her rookie season with the Spirit in 2021, resurfaced last September, sidelining her for almost a month. Although she returned for the Spirit`s playoff run, which concluded with a loss to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship in November, Spirit coach Jonathan Giraldez chose to rest Rodman for the NWSL Challenge Cup earlier in the month. She has, however, participated in all three regular season games so far and spoke on Friday about the enduring nature of her injury.
“To be honest, I don’t believe my back will ever be completely perfect,” she told reporters, according to Pro Soccer Wire. “It`s not due to one specific issue, but rather the structural way my back is. It`s more about managing the condition rather than finding a definitive cure. I think we`ve managed it very effectively, and I`m pleased with the progress we`ve made. However, personally, I don`t anticipate my back ever being as it was in my rookie year, which is unfortunate.”
This recurring back problem has caused Rodman to miss a significant number of games at various points in her career, sometimes at critical moments. Last season`s injury occurred after her vital contribution to the USWNT`s Olympic gold medal victory and during an NWSL season where she was in contention for the MVP award.
“It`s challenging for me, especially after such a successful season and the Olympics, to then face an injury and now attempt to rediscover my place, my role, and my rhythm,” Rodman continued. “I believe having such strong momentum and continuous progress, and then experiencing an injury, makes you question where you start again, because you can`t simply jump right back in. For me, the mental struggle has been accepting that I can`t be the same Trinity I was at the Olympics immediately after returning from injury. So, I`m focusing on playing my role as effectively as possible and contributing in a different way as I gradually build back up.”
Rodman’s Return to USWNT
Rodman`s current focus is now on the USWNT, who have two matches scheduled against Brazil in April as part of their preparations for the 2027 Women`s World Cup. This marks her first inclusion in the USWNT squad since the Olympics, with head coach Emma Hayes opting to give Rodman some rest following a demanding season for both club and country. Hayes has also been involved in managing Rodman`s back issues by consulting specialists.
“She`s been very open to everything I`ve suggested, and she even goes out of her way to contact me, to ask how I`m doing and to let me know they`re working behind the scenes to find people who can help with my back because it’s a difficult injury area, especially in sports where you`re more accustomed to knee and lower leg injuries,” Rodman mentioned about Hayes at the NWSL media day in January. “It`s been really positive. She`s very supportive and considerate of us all, which is great.”
Hayes is not necessarily planning to rush Rodman back into full action immediately. With the long lead-up to the World Cup, the head coach is embracing a period of experimentation and intends to use the games against Brazil to evaluate her less experienced players. However, Hayes openly acknowledged that Rodman might not be ready for a significant role in the upcoming friendly matches.
“We are thrilled to have her back with us,” Hayes stated during a press conference last week. “But of course, I must urge a degree of caution because she has a persistent back complaint. I believe she is progressing well, but it can be quite easy to aggravate it. You can transition from a managed return to play to doing too much too quickly, so I need to find the right balance in camp to reintegrate her back into the team while also managing her condition, as she has a long season ahead.”
Dominic Ashworth