Trinity Rodman, the 2021 Rookie of the Year in the National Women’s Soccer League, will become the highest-paid player in league history after signing a contract extension with the Washington Spirit on Wednesday, according to the club.
According to Sportico, the four-year contract is for $1.1 million.
Rodman, the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman and the youngest player ever drafted into the NWSL, has extended her contract with the league-winning club through the 2024 season, with a 2025 option.
Spirit coach Kris Ward commented, ” We’re incredibly excited to have Trin as a part of the Spirit family for at least the next three seasons. She has a truly special career ahead of her and makes us a better club on all fronts.”
Rodman joined the league last year on a three-year deal with an average of $42,000 per year in base money, plus housing and bonuses, according to the Washington Post. It was comparable to what the rest of the NWSL was getting. Rodman’s agency, Octagon Soccer, verified her compensation as the highest in the league.
By using allocation money, which is a spending permit beyond salary limits and team budget caps, the Spirit were able to pay Rodman more than the league’s maximum wage.
The NWSL’s maximum compensation has been raised to $75,000, a 43 percent rise, following the ratification of the league’s first collective bargaining agreement this week. The minimum salary has been raised to $35,000.
Rodman will earn a base pay of $281,000 per year, which is more than Alex Morgan’s and Megan Rapinoe’s NWSL salaries of $250,000 apiece, according to Sportico.
Despite Rodman’s leadership in leading the Spirit to the NWSL title last season, the team has been mired in controversy this offseason. The league suspended the club’s coach, Richie Burke, in August after player allegations of abusive behavior.
More recently, a power struggle between two of the club’s investors has erupted over ownership of the team. The players have requested that majority owner Steve Baldwin sell his shares to Y. Michele Kang, but the matter has yet to be addressed.
Rodman was called up to the USWNT for the first time in late January. She has nine goals in seven U20 international appearances and would have likely competed in the 2020 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup if it had not been canceled because to the pandemic.
Rodman, according to USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski, was “one of the most entertaining players in the league this past season, and she proved that she can be effective at the professional level in the NWSL.”
On Thursday, the USWNT roster for the SheBelieves Cup, which takes place from February 17 to 23, will be revealed.
