USWNT star Trinity Rodman inks new deal to become highest-paid female soccer player in history

Washington Spirit and USWNT forward Trinity Rodman signed a three-year contract extension Thursday that makes her the highest-paid female soccer player in the world. The new deal comes with a salary of over $1 million annually.

“I’ve made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said. “I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season, and I’m excited about where this club is headed. We’re chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can’t wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL.”

Rodman, 23, had been out of a contract since her previous deal expired Dec. 31. She reportedly had offers from top European clubs. According to Jeff Kassouf of ESPN, the offers coming from abroad were that the Spirit could not match under the constraints of the NWSL’s salary cap. The 2025 NWSL salary cap was $3.5 million per team.

In late November, the Spirit and Rodman came to an agreement to backload a four-year contract which came with an annual salary of over $1 million. Commissioner Jessica Berman rejected the deal, saying it violated the “spirit” of the rules.

Berman’s rejection of the contract led to the NWSLPA filing a grievance against the league on behalf of Rodman. The NWSL’s board of governors in December approved a new High Impact Player rule, which allows teams to spend up to $1 million over the salary cap on star players who match certain criteria.

Trinity Rodman got paid, NWSL keeps most popular player home

The announcement of the new deal was made at BMO Field in Los Angeles. Rodman has been training near the area with the USWNT.

“Trinity is a generational player, but more importantly, she represents the future of this club and the future of women’s soccer,” team owner Michele Kang said. “This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment. At the Spirit, we are building something enduring: a club that competes for championships every year, invests in excellence and creates an environment where world-class players can thrive long-term. Trinity choosing to continue her career in Washington is a powerful statement about what we are building here.” 

Rodman was selected second overall in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, becoming the youngest draft pick in league history. She has 28 goals and 17 assists in 97 appearances for the Spirit, helping lead the team to a championship during her rookie campaign.

Rodman has 47 caps in international play. She has scored 11 goals and will be a key piece of the USWNT that heads to Brazil for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.