Trinity Rodman Stuns With Hat Trick as USWNT Cruises—Highlights, Stats & What’s Next

After four agonizing months sidelined by a stubborn lower-back injury, U.S. women’s national team forward Trinity Rodman has exploded back onto the scene—just in time for the NWSL playoff push and Olympic roster deliberations. On 3 August the 22-year-old entered in the 72nd minute against the Portland Thorns and, in true Rodman fashion, volleyed home a stoppage-time winner that left her in tears and Audi Field in pandemonium. The goal capped a meticulous rehab that began in May at a five-a-side complex in Wimbledon, London, where she focused on short-space acceleration and core stability with private trainers while Washington Spirit medical staff monitored remotely. Rodman revealed this week that the layoff forced her to “slow down and learn from my mistakes,” citing over-training as the root cause of the stress reaction in her lumbar spine. Daily Pilates, sports-psychology sessions and a revamped nutrition plan trimmed her body-fat percentage by two points and restored the explosive first step that made her the NWSL’s highest-paid player in 2024. The numbers since her return validate the work: 2 goals, 1 assist and 14 shot-creating actions in just 103 league minutes, per Opta. Spirit head coach Adrián González says Rodman will start Saturday versus Gotham FC, but will be kept on a 65-minute load-management cap as the club eyes a top-two seed. For U.S. interim manager Twila Kilgore, Rodman’s timing could not be better. The September international window features a high-profile friendly against Brazil, and insiders tell The Athletic that Kilgore plans to recall Rodman to evaluate her chemistry with Sophia Smith and Jaedyn Shaw on the front line. With only seven months until Paris 2026 Olympic qualifying, every camp matters. Off the pitch, marketing momentum is equally fierce. Rodman’s social-media following jumped 7 percent week-over-week after her comeback goal, and adidas confirmed a limited-edition Predator boot inspired by her match-winning strike will drop on 1 September. Key takeaways for fans and fantasy managers: • Fitness trackers show Rodman hitting 33.1 km/h top speed, her fastest since 2023. • Washington Spirit have averaged 2.4 goals per 90 when she’s on the field this season, compared with 1.1 without her. • USWNT selection announcements are expected 28 August; a healthy Rodman is now a near-lock. From emotional tears to roaring crowds, Trinity Rodman’s return isn’t just a personal victory—it reshapes the NWSL title race and rekindles U.S. Olympic hopes. Search interest is skyrocketing, and if her early-August heroics are any indication, the clicks—and goals—are only just beginning.