

The Washington Spirit are working hard to keep star player Trinity Rodman amid ongoing contract talks. Team officials are hopeful about reaching an agreement that keeps her with the club.
The Washington Spirit are focused on keeping forward Trinity Rodman, who is currently a free agent. Team leaders, including president Haley Carter and general manager Nathan Minion, are in discussions with Rodman and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to find a way forward. They believe talks are moving in a positive direction.
The NWSL recently rejected a multiyear contract offer from the Spirit for Rodman. The league said the deal did not comply with its salary cap rules. In response, the NWSL Players Association filed a grievance, claiming the contract was fair and followed league rules, and that rejecting it violated Rodman’s rights as a free agent. The offer reportedly included a buyout clause that conflicted with the salary cap.
The NWSL salary cap is set at about 3.3 million euros for each team in 2026 and will increase to around 4.8 million euros by 2030. Rodman, a top player and Olympic gold medalist, has attracted interest from European clubs that do not have such salary limits. The Spirit know they must compete with these offers to keep her.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has expressed a strong wish for Rodman to stay in the league. The league is using all available tools to keep her in the U.S. professional league and is working with the Spirit to find a solution that benefits both sides.
President Haley Carter said the NWSL needs to rethink its salary cap to attract and keep top players. She explained that the current cap was made for an earlier time in women’s soccer and needs updating to compete with international clubs. The Spirit are working with the league to find new ways to keep Rodman and other key players.