Trinity Rodman Sidelined with Knee Injury
Trinity Rodman, a forward for the United States women’s national soccer team, is dealing with a Grade 1 MCL sprain, according to Washington Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez. The exact duration of her recovery remains unclear.
Due to this injury, Rodman is anticipated to miss the upcoming matches against Portugal and New Zealand. While U.S. Soccer hasn’t officially reported her withdrawal from training camp, Gonzalez couldn’t confirm if she would be unable to participate with the national team.
The NWSL playoffs are just around the corner, starting in three weeks, and Rodman is a crucial player for Washington, who has secured the No. 2 playoff seed.
“We are going to take this day by day,” Gonzalez expressed to the media. “Each player’s situation is unique.”
Rodman’s injury occurred on Wednesday, shortly after U.S. Soccer announced her return to the squad following a six-month layoff. U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes shared her excitement about Rodman’s inclusion in the roster. The forward had last appeared for the national team on April 5th.
<p“She ranks among the best players globally, and it's been over a year since we could utilize her,” Hayes remarked before Rodman sustained her injury.
During Washington’s 4-0 victory over Monterrey in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, Rodman required assistance off the field in tears and was unable to put pressure on her right leg. She was later seen with crutches and a full knee brace.
“She is at the facility today starting her rehab,” Gonzalez noted. “The results we’ve received could have been worse; it’s not as severe as it could be. We’re now beginning her rehabilitation.”
Washington’s win on Wednesday secured their place in the semifinals for next year’s regional championship, critical for qualification in future FIFA world club events. However, Rodman’s availability for the NWSL playoffs remains uncertain, given that there are two regular-season matches left before the playoffs kick off on November 7. The NWSL Championship is set for November 22.
Rodman has struggled with a recurring back injury for over a year. Her only international appearance since the gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics was in April, where she scored within six minutes in a 2-0 win against Brazil.
This marks the second consecutive season that the Spirit has clinched the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs. Last year, they finished as the regular season runner-up and lost to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship final.
Rodman had previously played through back discomfort and articulated after the championship loss that her pain affected her performance. “It’s not an excuse, but I wasn’t the Trin I wanted to be today,” she stated.
“Every player is unique,” Gonzalez commented on Friday. “We are tailoring our preparation to suit each individual’s needs. It’s essential to manage the players according to their backgrounds.”
He added, “At this point, our focus is on her day-to-day recovery and monitoring her progress.”
The U.S. national team is scheduled to face Portugal on October 23 in Chester, Pennsylvania, and again on October 26 in East Hartford, Connecticut, concluding the series against New Zealand on October 29 in Kansas City.
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