NWSL to fight to retain Trinity Rodman: Offers from England and USL in play

NWSL Fights to Retain Trinity Rodman Amid Foreign Offers

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman stated that the league is determined to do everything possible to keep Trinity Rodman, of the Washington Spirit and the United States national team, in the competition.

We want Trinity in our league and we will fight for her.

Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner

Rodman has received multiple offers from English teams. In addition, it is known that a USL Super League entity has presented an economic proposal superior to what the NWSL can match. The highest known annual salary in the NWSL belongs to Sophia Wilson, of the Portland Thorns FC, whose contract was signed in March 2024. This effort to secure Rodman comes amid a debate over the increase in the NWSL salary cap. There is concern about the possible departure of key players from the league to foreign clubs, especially in England and France, due to this limit. The NWSL increased the salary cap at the beginning of this year by $200,000 per team, reaching a total of $3.5 million. This increase follows the increases made in the last four seasons, with almost quadruple growth in the last four years, according to Berman. However, Berman did not commit to a possible increase for the 2026 season.

We don’t believe the NWSL is a charity. We believe it’s a business and, to treat it as such, our teams’ investment must have a rational relationship to revenue.

Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner

Berman also emphasized that compensation is only one of several factors influencing the choice of NWSL players. Other criteria include the level of competition, club infrastructure (training facilities and stadiums), and the level of training. The NWSL final between the Spirit and Gotham FC will be played this Saturday. Rodman has had little participation in the playoffs due to a knee injury suffered in a Concacaf W Champions Cup match in October.