Trinity Rodman’s Record-Breaking Soccer Career Proves She’s More Than Ben Shelton’s Girlfriend
If you’ve been following the final rounds of the U.S. Open, you’ve likely seen Trinity Rodman sitting courtside cheering on boyfriend and tennis star Ben Shelton. And though TV broadcast cameras and social feeds frequently lean into traditional WAG labels, Rodman’s anything but as her athletic career puts her in a league of her own.
Rodman, 24, is a powerhouse in professional women’s soccer. Her professional journey began in 2021 when she was selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Draft straight out of high school when she was 18 years old, making her the youngest player drafted in league history at the time. In her debut, Rodman scored a goal within just five minutes of entering the game.
She quickly proved her ability on the pitch, helping the Spirit win an NWSL championship, earning a Rookie of the Year award, and becoming a valuable asset for the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT).
Rodman continued to rise on the international stage when she helped the USWNT get gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the U.S., Rodman broke NWSL precedents when she signed a three-year contract extension with the Washington Spirit through 2028 thanks to the league’s High Impact Player rule. The landmark deal with Rodman carries an annual value upwards of $2 million, including bonuses, making her the highest-paid player in league history.
Athletic excellence runs in her family as she is the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman. But while her famous last name and viral relationship with Shelton have drawn a lot of mainstream media attention over the past few weeks, Rodman has clearly carved out a personal brand and career separate from both.
The couple has been together for a year and a half — with Shelton recently revealing that Rodman originally made the first move via Instagram DM — and their viral relationship has dominated social feeds. Rodman has managed to balance traveling between early morning soccer training and attending Shelton’s late-night, hours-long matches in the U.S. Open.
Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
So if you’re continuing to follow Shelton’s run in Flushing Meadows heading into finals weekend, remember you’re also looking at a soccer star on the courtside who’s dominated the NWSL and global stage before her mid-20s.
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