Trinity Rodman signed a record deal with the Washington Spirit on Thursday after weeks of uncertainty regarding her future in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The deal includes a three-year contract worth over $2 million annually, according to ESPN. The deal had previously been rejected by the league.
Trinity Rodman becomes the highest-paid player in NWSL history
Trinity Rodman signed a three-year contract with the Washington Spirit and will remain with the club through 2028. The deal is worth over $2 million annually, including bonuses. In an interview with ESPN, her agent Mike Senkowski said Rodman is the highest-paid female player in the world. She previously made history as the highest-paid player in league history.
“It feels amazing, I’m very happy, I’m very blessed,” Rodman said after signing the contract. “I think it’s a monumental and game-changing moment right now. I can’t even describe in words what it feels like. Obviously, everyone’s going to have their different thoughts and opinions about it, but I’ve never really cared. So, that doesn’t change anything for me.”
“I’ve always had a vision of kind of an idea of what I want my legacy to be and continue to be,” she added. “For me, we’re doing that, with help obviously, and I’m so grateful for that. But yeah, I think this is just opening up opportunities for American girls with dreams, and I’m one and was one of them, and so I’m very grateful about that.”
Trinity Rodman’s record deal was reached after it had initially been rejected by the NWSL
In November 2025, the Washington Spirit and Rodman reached a deal to extend her time playing for the club beyond Dec. 31, after which she became a free agent. The NWSL rejected the attempted offer, which was a four-year contract worth over $1 million per year.
The league’s commissioner, Jessica Berman, said the deal was rejected because it violated the spirit of the rules. The NWSL also said that the offer did not match the 2025 salary cap set at $3.5 million per team. As a free agent, Rodman reportedly received offers from international clubs.
“Not only me personally but all of us at the Spirit are profoundly grateful that she has chosen to stay with us for another three years despite some very compelling alternatives she had,” Kang said on Thursday, per ESPN.
The league’s player association filed a grievance against the NWSL on Rodman’s behalf. It called the rejection of the deal a “flagrant violation” of her free agency and a violation of at least five sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, ESPN reported.
The league has since allowed teams to spend up to $1 million over the salary cap on players who meet certain criteria.
“Trinity is an inspiration to young girls across America. She is a player they can relate to, and those young fans matter more than anything to her,” Senkowski said in a statement. “The decision to continue to play here represents a very clear vision for the future of women’s soccer. She set a new standard for the sport and will ultimately drive the continued growth and success of the league and its players. I’m so proud of her.”