Trinity Rodman made a sensational return to the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) on Saturday, marking her comeback with a goal just five minutes into the match against Brazil. This victory, which ended 2-0 in favor of the USWNT, was her first international appearance since participating in last year's Olympic gold medal match. The 22-year-old athlete had been sidelined for nearly eight months due to a recurring back injury that she aggravated while playing for the Washington Spirit in September.
Despite her time away from the national team, Rodman showcased remarkable skill by deftly poking the ball into the bottom right corner from 10 yards out. This impressive play followed a well-executed run from teammate Alyssa Thompson. In a light-hearted moment, Rodman pretended to have reinjured her back during her goal celebration, causing a stir among the medical staff. “The medical staff was freaking out, but I felt like I had to do it,” Rodman said with a smile, according to AP. "It felt so good to be in this atmosphere again, to be with the team. The stadium was crazy.”
Manager Emma Hayes was less amused by Rodman's playful act. After the game, she expressed concern, stating, “I didn’t think she was pretending. I turned to the physios and said, ‘Her back’s hurting,’ instantly. And then I realized she was tricking us.” Hayes indicated that she would have a conversation with Rodman about the importance of being cautious regarding injuries.
Rodman, a native of Orange County, relished the chance to return to international play in front of 32,303 fans at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This match was particularly significant as it marked the first-ever women’s professional sports event held at the venue. Fellow Californian Alyssa Thompson also made her mark by providing the assist for Rodman's goal and nearly scored herself in the 17th minute, forcing a smart save from Brazil’s goalkeeper, Lorena.
Ally Sentnor came close to increasing the lead just four minutes later, also being thwarted by the onrushing goalkeeper. Brazil, however, returned to the pitch in the second half with renewed determination, hitting the crossbar twice within six minutes—first through Ludmila and then Giovana Queiroz.
In the 66th minute, the home team secured their second goal when captain Lindsey Heaps converted a penalty after Lily Yohannes was fouled in the area by Ludmila. This 2-0 victory not only secured a win for the USWNT but also marked a clean sheet for debutant goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who made an impressive six saves throughout the match.
“I think it shows where this group is going,” said Heaps, according to AP. “Our group is just getting better and better, and there’s not massive gaps between players. These young guns coming in … it’s such a cool thing for us to see.” With this match serving as a rematch of last year’s Paris 2024 gold medal game, both teams are set to meet again on Tuesday, April 8, for the second match of this two-game friendly series.
