Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang, President of Soccer Operations Haley Carter and CEO Kim Stone announced on a live broadcast from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday that Trinity Rodman has signed a 3-year contract to remain with the Washington Spirit.
“She’s not just a football player, she’s the blueprint,” Kang said during the event. “I can’t tell you how incredible this moment is for the entire Spirit. She literally lifted this club’s profile, our vision, and our reach globally.”
Following the Spirit’s second-place finish in the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season, for the second year in a row, Rodman’s contract was set to expire, and her future became the subject of mass speculation across sports media. With many high-profile NWSL players departing the domestic league to play abroad, the Spirit’s ability to retain Rodman, who was knowingly fielding offers from European clubs, is a major boost of confidence for a league that lately has struggled to slow the bleed.
The announcement was teased all day as a “special live press event,” and fans speculated online about its subject, though most agreed (and hoped) that it would be Rodman-related.
Kang, Carter and Stone began the event by recapping some of the Spirit’s big successes, and Stone made sure to give flowers to Kang, an owner who has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to spend money across the clubs she owns.
“Everything flows from ownership” Stone said. “When you have an owner who is willing to invest appropriately, you set the foundation for success.”
Rodman took the stage when her 3-year contract was announced and watched as a video of her fans and supporters played above her. She then sat with the panel of Kang, Carter and Stone to discuss what her decision to stay means to the club and the league.
“On the field she’s incredibly creative. Her acceleration, her change of direction, she can really create something gout of nothing,” Carter said about Rodman. “But what I appreciate most about Trin is her ability to process the game … To be able to retain Trin’s talent here within the club and in the NWSL is really, really exciting, and I’m thankful that she chose to stick with us.”
Stone also discussed Rodman’s unique ability to connect with fans, pointing out that retaining Rodman was not just a matter of holding onto top talent but preserving a fan favorite as well.
In addition to the big news about Rodman, Kang, Carter and Stone mentioned that they have other big plans for the future. These include deepening the quality of the roster, refining operating systems, growing more innovative, and working to grow both the club and the league at large.
“Washington, D.C. deserves to have a standard bearer in women’s sports,” Carter said.
