On various occasions, Trinity Rodman has opened up about the expectations tied to her last name or what it is like being in the spotlight. In a recent interview, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman shared more about her relationship with her father.
“Growing up, people always thought that me and my dad had a close relationship, and we never did. Living in Newport Beach, my dad was a little bit around but was still in the party NBA phase. He wasn’t in our lives, and I was with my mom. We were living separately, but we were still seeing him,” she told ESPN.
The soccer player, her brother and her mother lived out of motels and cars during several moments in her childhood. People assumed her last name meant she grew up with money, but Trinity said she wanted to forge her path.
“People do know Trinity Rodman sometimes first before Dennis Rodman now,” she said. “I’m not trying to overcome what he has accomplished. I just want to build my own story.”
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The 21-year-old shared that she rekindled her relationship with her father when she launched her professional career and saw him attend a game.
“When I saw my dad on the sideline. I don’t even know if there was a thought. In the moment, I remember thinking, ‘Is this a start? Is this his effort to start coming to more games?'” she said. “It was amazing to see him and hear him cheer me on on the sideline and knowing the other half of my parents was proud of me.”
Although she used to see her relationship with her father negatively, Trinity said she has learned to come to terms with it and feels blessed with the family she has.
“I’ve gotten to a place where I’ve found peace with it. I’m not looking at it negatively,” Trinity said.
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Trinity added she noticed similarities between them, including their love for bright-colored clothes and loud patterns such as tie-dye. These similarities also appear on the field, where they display their competitive side.
“I feel like I’m my own person on the field, but then seeing these similarities within us, I’m like, ‘Wow,'” she said. “I kind of have to take a step back, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I looked like my dad there.'”
The soccer player is proud of her last name.
“When I say ‘Rodman,’ it’s not my dad’s name, it’s my name, it’s my brother’s name, it’s my family’s name,” she said. “It’s ultimately the story that got me where I am today, and I love that.”
Trinity competes in the soccer World Cup alongside U.S. star players such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith. At 18, she became the youngest player to go professional when drafted as the No. 2 pick by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.
