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August 29, 2025

What to know about NWSL star Trinity Rodman

WATCH: Ask Me Anything: 2024 Olympics edition

Trinity Rodman is a California native best known for her skills on the soccer pitch.

Rodman, a forward for the Washington Spirit, was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women's national soccer team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 23-year-old has also made headlines outside of soccer with her relationship with a fellow professional athlete, American tennis star Ben Shelton.

Rodman surprised Shelton at the 2025 U.S. Open by taking a red-eye flight from California to New York to watch him play, later showing up in his post-match news conference.

After winning his second round match on Aug. 27, a surprised Shelton looked up to see Rodman asking him a question about his serve, according to a video shared on Instagram by the U.S. Open and the ATP Tour.

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"How did it feel not serving faster than 135 today? ... I just know you like to serve big and it wasn't breaking 140 today," Rodman asked Shelton, who buried his smiling face in his hand.

"Why did you give her a question?" Shelton joked to the organizer, before answering Rodman's question in full.

"It was cold outside," Shelton said with a smile. "So I think that was the main reason. I was focused on hidden spots and I didn't hit those spots, so maybe I should just serve bigger, but something I'll definitely work on next time."

Here is more to know about Rodman and her relationship with Shelton.

Rodman has played soccer nearly her entire life

PHOTO: Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit kicks the ball in the second half during the NWSL match between Houston Dash and Washington Spirit at Shell Energy Stadium, March 14, 2025, in Houston, Texas.
Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit kicks the ball in the second half during the NWSL match between Houston Dash and Washington Spirit at Shell Energy Stadium, March 14, 2025, in Houston, Texas.

Rodman, a native of Newport Beach, California, has been playing soccer since the age of 4.

She is known for her signature "Trin Spin" move and also represented the U.S. and made her World Cup debut as a women's national team member at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Rodman made history when she was drafted by the Spirit

PHOTO: Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit enters the pitch for the second half during the NWSL match between Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns at Audi Field on August 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Scott Taetsch/NWSL via Getty Images
Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit enters the pitch for the second half during the NWSL match between Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns at Audi Field on August 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Rodman made history in 2021, when at 18, she was drafted by the Spirit, becoming the youngest player to be drafted in the history of the National Women's Soccer League.

The 5-foot-8-inch forward is a key player for the Spirit. In 2024, she become the Spirit's all-time regular season assists leader, according to the team's website.

After a four-month break earlier this year due to an injury, Rodman returned to play for Spirit on Aug. 3, and helped lead the team to a 2-1 win.

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Rodman, who wears a No. 2 jersey, said in an emotional interview after the game that coming back to the pitch after dealing with an injury over the last year wasn't easy.

"Holy cow, that was just the hardest thing I've had to go through, with injury and everything," Rodman said, according to a video shared online by the NWSL. "Being back, especially at the home stadium with the crowd behind me, scoring a goal like that -- you saw I buried it. I was not going to miss it. I'm just really happy to be back."

Rodman made her Olympics debut in 2024

PHOTO: Trinity Rodman #5 of Team United States in action during the Women's semifinal match between United States of America and Germany during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Lyon on Aug. 06, 2024 in Lyon, France.
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
Trinity Rodman #5 of Team United States in action during the Women's semifinal match between United States of America and Germany during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Lyon on Aug. 06, 2024 in Lyon, France.

Rodman won gold at her first-ever Olympics with the U.S. women's national soccer team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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She told Vogue ahead of the Paris Olympics that she was also excited to shine a spotlight on women's soccer and help push the sport forward on the world stage.

"For me, the biggest thing with the Olympics or the World Cup or any large-scale tournament in general is that I feel like each is an opportunity to change the women's game in one way or another," Rodman said in part at the time. "Whether that's expanding the fan base, showing off different styles of play, [demonstrating] creativity in the way we play and the way we score, the way we celebrate; if it's fashion, if it's swag, I think all of these major tournaments are huge platforms that we can use in such an amazing way."

She is dating pro tennis player Ben Shelton

PHOTO: Ben Shelton playing at the US Open in New York City, Aug. 27, 2025 and Trinity Rodman watching his match, Aug. 24, 2025.
Reuters/AP
Ben Shelton playing at the US Open in New York City, Aug. 27, 2025 and Trinity Rodman watching his match, Aug. 24, 2025.

Rodman and Shelton went Instagram official with their relationship in March 2025, when Shelton posted a photo dump that included a photo of Rodman kissing him on the cheek.

Rodman commented on the post, writing, "Shooters shoot," while tennis star Coco Gauff also called out the couple's status, commenting, "Hard launchhhhh."

Since then, Rodman has been spotted at Shelton's matches around the world, including at the French Open and Wimbledon.

PHOTO: Trinity Rodman watches Ben Shelton in his third round match at the French Open Tennis Tournament in Paris, on May 30, 2025.
Javier Garcia/Shutterstock
Trinity Rodman watches Ben Shelton in his third round match at the French Open Tennis Tournament in Paris, on May 30, 2025.

Both Rodman and Shelton come from athletic families.

Shelton's dad is Bryan Shelton, a former professional tennis player and college tennis coach.

Rodman is the daughter of five-time NBA champion basketball player Dennis Rodman.

PHOTO: Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman with her father basketball legend Dennis Rodman after a game between North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit at Audi Field, Nov. 7, 2021, in Washington.
Tony Quinn/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman with her father basketball legend Dennis Rodman after a game between North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit at Audi Field, Nov. 7, 2021, in Washington.

Rodman is also an author

In May 2022, Trinity Rodman added "author" to her long list of achievements with the publication of a children's book titled "Wake Up and Kick It."

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She told Vogue in 2024 that she loves to embrace her creative side with drawing, painting, writing and connecting with fans on TikTok.