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Trinity Rodman may be a relative newcomer to the U.S. women’s national team, but she already seemingly fits in perfectly with the reigning world champions as the Women’s World Cup rapidly approaches.
The forward laid out the USWNT’s expectations for themselves at the tournament in an interview with ESPN, and no surprise, the team is eyeing a three-peat after taking home the title in 2015 and 2019.
“My expectations are that we’re the most ruthless team, we’re never going to give up and we’re going to get the title,” Rodman said.
Between the rising quality of women’s national teams around the world and turnover in the USWNT squad, Rodman admitted that World Cup victory won’t be as easy this time as it was in the past. She has a point — the team is traveling to Australia and New Zealand with 14 players who could play at their first World Cup, more than the 11 newcomers who won the World Cup in France in 2019.
The younger USWNT players may lack experience, but they more than make up for it in skill that should assist the team as it defends its title in what will likely be the most competitive World Cup yet. For no one is that more true than the 21-year-old Rodman, who demonstrated just that in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Wales in the USWNT’s final match before the World Cup.
Rodman was a halftime sub, and provided a needed spark up top after the USWNT struggled to break down a compact Welsh defense during the first half. The Washington Spirit standout connected perfectly with Lynn Williams and Sophia Smith to break the deadlock in the 76th minute, and capped off a strong outing with a goal from distance in the 87th minute.
The versatile Rodman fits in across the front line, but played as a center forward after replacing Alex Morgan. Her performance posed the question, despite the USWNT’s embarrassment of riches in attack, is Rodman too good to leave on the bench once the World Cup gets…
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