Trinity Rodman's Contract Battle Explodes: Inside the Shocking Dispute Rocking Women's Soccer

Based on multiple reports, Trinity Rodman desires to remain with the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

However, why hasn't the U.S women's national team star finalized a new contract yet, and what obstacles are preventing her from continuing in the NWSL? Let's examine the situation.

What does Rodman's existing contract look like?

In 2022, following her triumph in the 2021 NWSL Championship during her debut season, Rodman inked a four-year agreement with the Spirit, reportedly the league's highest-paying deal at approximately $275,000 annually.

This contract expires on Dec. 31, 2025. Rodman is effectively already a free agent since the negotiation period with potential new clubs commenced on July 1, 2025.

Beyond capturing the 2021 NWSL Championship with the Spirit, Rodman has been instrumental in the team's back-to-back runner-up finishes and Championship final appearances in '24 and '25. She holds the record as the youngest NWSL player to achieve 40 combined goals and assists, accumulating 47 (29 goals, 18 assists) at age 23.

Which clubs are pursuing Rodman?

Extensive reporting has covered potential destinations for Rodman. In March 2025, Rodman shared with ESPN her longtime interest in competing in international leagues. "I've consistently considered playing abroad at some stage in my career," she stated on ESPN's Futbol W.

In 2025, USWNT stars Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson both departed the NWSL for Chelsea in the English Women's Super League. This led many to anticipate Rodman would pursue a similar route, particularly considering the NWSL's $3.5 million salary cap for the 2026 season.

Subsequently, in November, during a press conference before the 2025 NWSL Championship, commissioner Jessica Berman declared the NWSL would "battle" to retain Rodman in the league. These emphatic statements from the commissioner accompanied a report from The Athletic's Meg Linehan and Tom Bogert that the USL Super League club DC Power had presented Rodman with a substantial contract offer.

Shortly thereafter, Rodman reached agreement on a new four-year deal with the Spirit. According to reports from ESPN, Bloomberg and The Athletic, this contract was understood to exceed $1.1 million annually with the agreement structured to increase significantly during the 2028 and '29 seasons.

Despite external interest, it currently appears evident that Rodman wishes to join the Spirit and the Spirit desires to secure Rodman.

What caused the agreement to collapse?

The NWSL denied this proposed contract not due to salary cap violations but because it wasn't aligned with the "philosophy" of league regulations, as ESPN reported. The reporting indicates the disagreement focuses on the back-loaded structure of the proposed agreement and the Spirit's readiness to gamble on the future and confirm a buyout provision in 2028.

During these developments, Rodman's representative, Mike Senkowski, appeared on CBS Mornings to discuss Rodman's strong desire to remain with the Spirit. He stressed that the NWSL needed to acknowledge her "legitimate market value" and approve the proposal under consideration.

The suggestion here is that European clubs, or teams in any other league without salary restrictions, could offer Rodman the identical contract that the Spirit proposed.

What authority does the NWSL have to reject agreements?

U.S. sports leagues function differently from many worldwide because they are frequently structured as a single entity. Similar to the WNBA, NFL, MLB or any major league, players contract with the league directly.

While teams negotiate contract terms and handle payments, the league maintains responsibility for executing these fundamental player contracts. This provides the NWSL with the unique power to determine that a contract is inappropriate for approval.

What motivated the NWSLPA to challenge the rejected contract?

After the NWSL's denial of the Spirit's contract proposal to Rodman, the NWSL Players Association intervened to file a complaint on Rodman's behalf claiming the rejected agreement infringed upon her free agency rights.

The NWSL has two weeks to address the complaint submitted by the NWSLPA, with a decision anticipated this week. The NWSL will either accept the contract or engage with the NWSLPA in legal proceedings regarding whether the league is exceeding its authority and infringing Rodman's free agency privileges.

What rule modifications is the NWSL considering for Rodman?

Following the NWSLPA's complaint filing with the league, NWSL team owners convened for a board session to modify regulations to provide the Spirit additional flexibility to sign Rodman.

According to ESPN and The Athletic, NWSL owners voted this week on a new system that permits additional funding beyond the salary cap to secure superstars. This new regulation is anticipated to be called the High Impact Player rule, which will allow off-cap compensation annually for elite players meeting specific qualifications.

Complete details remain undisclosed currently, and importantly, the NWSLPA must approve any modifications, as they affect its collective bargaining agreement, which extends until 2028. Essentially, the new regulation would permit players like Rodman to earn higher salaries without creating salary cap conflicts that make the league feel it contradicts the "philosophy" of current cap regulations.

On Wednesday, Sophia Wilson executed a one-year contract extension with the Portland Thorns, which Sportico reported as $1 million. The NWSL already sanctioned this agreement because it was an option year established when she renewed her commitment with the Thorns in 2024.

When will Rodman finalize a new contract?

Should the NWSLPA approve the new rule proposals from the NWSL board of governors, we might witness Rodman officially execute a new record contract with the Spirit within days.

The international transfer window begins on Jan. 1 and concludes on Jan. 30. Should Rodman's proposed agreement extend or completely fail, interest from European clubs will certainly intensify.

If Rodman's contract situation this offseason has demonstrated anything, it's that the NWSL isn't yet prepared to cease limiting contracts in the league relative to the global soccer marketplace.

Put simply, women's soccer salaries are rising more rapidly than the NWSL prefers the salary cap to grow. Rodman's re-signing won't address the league's requirement for increased salaries to compete for players seeking to participate in the UEFA Women's Champions League.