Earlier this year, Trinity Rodman became the youngest person to be drafted into the National Soccer Women’s League (NWSL). In her debut match with the Washington Spirit over the weekend, she made history as the youngest American goal scorer in league history.
Rodman was the second pick of the 2021 draft into the NSWL. Despite being the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, she insists on paving her own path after her history-making goal.
“He was an amazing athlete, and I got those genes from him, but I’m excited to be known as Trinity Rodman and not just as Rodman’s daughter,” she said to CNN. “I’m excited to pave my own path and get better throughout this journey.”
According to the Associated Press, Australian player Ellie Carpenter is the youngest player to score in the NSWL, achieving the feat just 22 days after turning 18.
A few minutes into the game, after subbing fellow teammate Kumi Yokoyama in the 60th minute, Rodman walked the talk about carving a niche for herself by scoring a goal for her team against North Carolina Courage, although the scoreline for the game was 3-2 against The Washington Spirit.
The 18-year-old was swarmed by teammates who congratulated her and she was even referred to as a GOAT, or greatest of all time, “in the making“, PEOPLE reported.
“The kid is just brilliant. She’s a machine as an athlete, just unbelievable,” added Coach Richie Burke. “When you play against her, you train with her, you see how quickly she closes you down. She’s deceptively quick to close you down. But now she’s getting tactically better, too.”
The soccer star on the rise said her mom, Michelle Moyer, is her rock who has stood by her every step of the way. Although she has worked hard to get to the professional league, Rodman gives some credit to her teammates for helping her out whenever she needs them. “My team has helped me a lot, obviously, being a really young player and very new, it’s definitely a lot faster, girls are a lot stronger, a lot more intelligent, at this level,” Rodman told reporters, according to the AP.
“I think just getting advice from my teammates in scrimmages and practices, I’ve been able to kind of think ahead. And I think that’s a huge part of what’s helped me in the game. “
Per USA Today, before joining the big leagues, Rodman was a standout for the U.S. U20 national team – scoring eight goals and adding six assists at the 2020 CONCACAF U20 Women’s Championship last March and a finalist for U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year.
