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<ul><li>Rodman discusses long-term back injury</li><li>Admits she's been in pain "all the time"</li><li>Winger in contract year, teams allowed to approach her</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n">Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'I was in pain all the time' - Washington Spirit, USWNT star Trinity Rodman admits persistent back injury will alter game, but 'still gonna give it 100 percent'

NWSL

Washington Spirit

Portland Thorns

U.S. women's national team star Trinity Rodman finally returned to training with the Washington Spirit after a lengthy absence, time spent receiving specialized treatment for a persistent back injury she says caused her pain "all the time.""I'm just happy to be back and actually in team training and not coming back on the side from step one," Rodman said Tuesday. Rodman has been battling the injury for many months, but returned to the U.S. squad in early April for friendlies against Brazil,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/watch-trinity-rodman-strikes-first-for-uswnt-vs-brazil-pokes-fun-at-recent-back-injury-in-goal-celebration/blt54fb3a2048000bb4">scoring just minutes into her return</a>. The match was her first for the USWNT since the 2024 Olympics. The 23-year-old stepped away again, however, and hasn't played for the NWSL side since April 12, when she came off the bench to play 45 minutes in a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville."I think for me mentally, it was really hard," Rodman said. "Now being better and fixing the problem - I can now kind of openly say I was in pain all the time - working through that was difficult. Obviously, it sucks being away from the team and being away from soccer in general. But I got to work on things that I wouldn't have gotten to work on if I was in the team environment all the time, so I think that was a positive."Rodman said she is now better prepared to adjust her game to benefit her long-term health."I'm still gonna be intense, and I'm still gonna give it 100 percent all the time," she said, "but I think there's parts of my game where I need to save energy or adjust to certain tackles. And I think I've been doing a pretty good job with that so far coming back in training."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Rodman has become an integral figure for club and country. At the 2024 Olympics, she was part of the esteemed "Triple Espresso" attack - along with Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson - that led the USWNT to a gold medal.For the USWNT, Rodman has amassed 47 caps, scoring 11 goals and recording nine assists. In 2024, she made 26 appearances for the Spirit, scoring eight goals and recording six assists as she helped lead Washington to the NWSL championship game, where they fell just short against the Orlando Pride, 1-0."It's tough for me coming off such a good season and the Olympics and then going into an injury and now trying to find my place again and find my role and rhythm," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/i-can-t-be-the-trinity-i-was-at-the-olympics-rodman-s-back-may-never-be-100-percent-but-emma-hayes-and-uswnt-thrilled-to-have-her-unbelievable-qualities-back-for-first-time-since-paris-games/blt3920f1a1046d7090" target="_blank">she said during the USWNT's April camp</a>. "I think having such an incline of momentum of going and going and going and then getting injured to where it's like 'Am I starting again?' Because you can't just get right back into it."It's been the mental battle of 'I can't be the Trinity I was at the Olympics' now coming back from injury, so I'm trying to play the role as best as I can and still be effective in a different way as I build back up into it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 23-year-old's contract with the Spirit concludes at the end of the NWSL season. Teams are now allowed to approach her with pre-contract agreements ahead of a potential departure from the club next season. Spirit CEO Kim Stone recently told media that team owner Michele Kang is in negotiations with Rodman's camp over a new deal.Rodman added that it's a "weird situation" to be in while she's dealing with her return from injury. Ahead of the NWSL season, Rodman admitted that at one point in her career, she would like to play in Europe, and that it is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/only-matter-of-time-uswnt-washington-spirit-star-trinity-rodman-reveals-desire-to-play-at-club-level-in-europe/blt59fc6058c0a60c23" target="_self">"only a matter of time"</a> before a move like that comes to fruition."This is the first time I've kind of been in a situation where it's like, 'What's happening?'" she said. "Dealing with this injury the whole time, like I barely played. So, it is a weird situation. I'm trying not to stress about it or put too much pressure on it, because at the end of the day, I'm worried about health first, and then everything else can come next."

WHAT RODMAN ADDED

The Spirit next return to the pitch on Sunday, when they take on the Portland Thorns. Rodman has no specific timeline to make her return beyond training, though she is expected to play for the Spirit before the end of the season.

WHAT NEXT?

'I was in pain all the time' - Washington Spirit, USWNT star Trinity Rodman admits persistent back injury will alter game, but 'still gonna give it 100 percent' | Goal.com

The 23-year-old finally returned to training, admits that it &quot;sucks being away from the team and being away from soccer&apos;

&apos;I was in pain all the time&apos; - Washington Spirit, USWNT star Trinity Rodman admits persistent back injury will alter game, but &apos;still gonna give it 100 percent&apos;

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