American soccer star Trinity Rodman has inked a massive new deal with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit – making her the highest-paid women’s footballer in the world.
Rodman signed a record three-year deal to remain in the Nation’s Capital through 2028 which will see her earn an average of over $1million per year.
It makes her the best paid player in league history and, according to her agent – Mike Senkowski of Upper 90 Sports Group – the highest paid worldwide.
The 23-year-old Rodman joins fellow USWNT teammate Sophia Wilson in the NWSL’s millionaire club after Wilson became the first player to make seven-figures when she exercised her player option for 2026.
Amid growing interest from Europe, signing Rodman was a coup for not only the league, but also Spirit owner Michele Kang.
‘I’ve made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,’ Rodman said in a statement released through the team.
USWNT star Trinity Rodman has agreed to a new deal with the Washington Spirit
Rodman’s deal, signed Thursday, makes her the highest paid women’s footballer in the world
The 23-year-old had received plenty of interest from clubs across Europe – especially England
‘I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season, and I’m excited about where this club is headed. We’re chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can’t wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL.’
‘Not only me personally but all of us at the Spirit are profoundly grateful that she has chosen to stay with us for another three years despite some very compelling alternatives she had,’ Kang said at an event announcing he extension on Thursday.
Rodman’s future had been up in the air for months as her contract expired at the turn of the new year.
While Rodman received plenty of offers from abroad – particularly from England – the NWSL scrambled to figure out a way to ensure its top players could stay in the league while still maintaining a salary cap. In 2025, that cap was $3.5million.
After the league initially rejected a contract which would backload a contract for Rodman at an annual value of $1m, the player’s union filed a grievance against the NWSL over what it called a ‘flagrant violation’ of free agency and multiple sections of the collective bargaining agreement.
Securing Rodman to a new deal is a relief for the NWSL, which feared losing its best player
This led to the NWSL’s board of governors adopting a ‘High Impact Player Rule’ – akin to the ‘Designated Player’ rule in MLS – which would allow teams to spend up to $1m over the salary cap on star players who meet laid out criteria.
This was done not only to make an attempt to keep Rodman, but to stop a one-way flow of American players to European sides. Still, the rule is being opposed by the NWSLPA – which filed a grievance against the league on January 14.
In 2025, Chelsea’s women’s side signed USWNT stars Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson. Just last week, Manchester City WFC confirmed the transfer of Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey.
Rodman has been in DC her whole professional career, being picked second overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
