Trinity Rodman EXCLUSIVE: 'USWNT are the most RUTHLESS team' Is the Threepeat on? | ESPN FC

Futbol Americas' Sebastian Salazar sits down with USWNT star Trinity Rodman ahead of the Women's World Cup in Australia & New Zealand to discuss pre-tournament challenges, the legacy she is working towards & the ups and downs of the last season with the Washington Spirit.
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[@EmDe69]

Talent, creativity AND discipline. What a player.

[@JeanClaudeCOCO]

Trinity we need your ruthlessness at this World Cup. Fabulous goals this weekend!!

[@CMJames]

One was preceded by a clear foul

[@jariemonah]

@@CMJamesYes, but that was consistent refereeing. They let Wales foul the US so many times in the first half.

[@glorioustrump245]

cringe

[@yeshuaknoyanot8474]

Oops

[@moiseshernandez2639]

Wow she is a confident humble young lady, well spoken, and definitely an awesome player I’m a fan now and starting watching soccer because of her, I watched the last couple national team play and they are amazing, much respect to all the ladies playing and representing USA 🇺🇸

[@amykate4459]

so excited to watch her in the world cup!

[@dvd7826]

Ever since Christen Press left Trinity has been my favorite soccer player on the team 😊

[@gwendolynburns1456]

Go Trin! Excited to see her Sophia Mal and Ashley Sanchez go off in the World Cup. Same with Naomi and Crystal Dunn! And Fox too! I love so many of these girls. Fierce and constantly improving. 💕

[@gwendolynburns1456]

Wait Mal is hurt but I’m excited to see her when she’s back in action. Imagine her Rodney and Smith up top. 💪💪💪

[@ahmadmogharnasi3145]

She may be one of the star of this World Cup even though there are many amazing talented players to consider.✌⚽🏆🔥🌋

[@bagoquarks]

To borrow a metaphor from The Hunt For Red October, Rodman's "reactor" is always running at 105%. Rodman and Thompson may be the two fastest women on the 32 WWC teams, with a tip of the hat to Lynne Williams, Ellie Carpenter of Australia, and Chloe Kelly of England as well. But speed in soccer needs to be injected at the right moments because no one can run a 100M pace for 90 minutes. Additionally, Rodman is also great at defensive pressure.

[@CMJames]

USA have always been fast. They lack the technical/tactical ability and skill that Europeans posses though. If they can’t get the ball, being fast is no help. Having to play Spain is a situation being fast will not help them in anyway because Spain will pass round them and wear them out.

[@bagoquarks]

@@CMJames One nightmare memory I have is sloppy US midfield passing in the 2 Australia friendlies followed by a thief named Ellie Carpenter smoking down the right for a cross pass in front of the USWNT goal. This is why we hope that 2023 Julie Ertz = 2019 Julie Ertz. In a late 2019 interview Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris were both praising how good Spain played the US in that year's WWC. Then there's that checkered history the USWNT has with Sweden ....

[@richard6440]

@@CMJames because Spain will pass round them and wear them out. Esther Gonzales enters the chat .

[@jamesriesterer1141]

I have lived in the Detroit area most all of my sixty four years, and am, all of my life, an avid sports fan. And in the late half of the 80’s, the Detroit Pistons had been in a 4 way brawl for the NBA Championship. Larry Birds Celtics, Magic Johnson’s Laker’s, and Michael Jordan’s Bulls were locked in a struggle with any of the other teams and the Detroit Pistons. You’ll note that I didn’t designate a specific name as leader of the Piston’s. Another day. But in the NBA draft, the year they selected D. Rodman, the choice was made because they saw in him, exactly what no one else was willing to admit. That his Special defensive skills (rebounding skills at a CRAZY level) was only one picture of the 21 year old. And if there was one talent the Coach (Chuck Daily) was Superior at then any other Coach, it was at communicating with his team members individually so that the end result was a well coordinated team effort, using, not necessarily, their single “best skill”, but giving up the thinking that they were great at all. When he met Dennis and they had their first conversation, he didn’t make a public statement. In fact, for the majority of the time he played for the Piston’s, the Coach was protective and even loving towards his young player. Dennis Rodman was a generational NBA talent. At a time when the league was stocked full of Offensive Super Stars, Dennis played every second he was on the court. And his style of play was committed, first! To do anything that the Coach told him to do. Which was to give up his one-talent approach. Instead, he was told to focus all his energy on stopping the opposing team, using his razor sharp intelligence to work together, talk together, and give whatever was necessary for his team to win. I have yet to experience another radical re-direction in the course of a NBA team by a single player. He was literally sprinting after EVERY ball. Stopping EVERY offensive play. Leading EVERYONE on the court anytime that there was a break away. But, perhaps the most beautiful moment in any game, was when he would rebound. There were others on the team taller. But, his instincts for location during every play, at either end of the court was absolutely stunning. Not to mention his elevation. He spent half of his rebounding time in the rafters! After he signed with Chicago, I think that his Spirit was broken. He never played “ruthlessly “. His level of focus, or intensity, exceeded everyone else’s level substantially. Dennis was the missing person from the Piston’s team. He truly made the difference between “almost “ to NBA CHAMPIONS back-to-back. This life may be many things, but, it’s never easy. Men’s Professional Athletics is about as surreal as it gets. So much has changed since the 90’s. So much changed from the 50’s to the 90’s. Whatever form of Love required for Dennis to know peace, I know that he deserves it. I hope that you understand my paragraph. I share something very important with Dennis Rodman. For me, it’s been the most beautiful thing. We are both fathers. Single parents of amazing children. Have fun down under. Listen to your teammates who were there before. You don’t need to reinvent every wheel ❤. JimR

[@richard6440]

I'm sorry, what does this have to do with the WWC ?

[@sogregarious]

You would write an essay

[@laibinot65]

Just caught this latest interview. I'm impressed by Trinity's poise and maturity Best of luck in WWC

[@T0mF0rd]

i love her celebration in eafc24. wish i could do it with my pro player

[@lilybelle297]

❤❤❤

[@centenoj85]

Rodman ❤❤❤

[@thomasrauhauser7741]

Trinity you got great genetics.. leave it at that… your dad was beast mode!! Give us that same energy and you’ll earn your legacy.

[@yammmm9112]

People need to realize that even if the US maintains their high quality, over time the women’s sport will be bigger, more diverse and thus more competitive. Thus, expect the US to not have the same level of success even with maintaining their level. Lots of the US women’s success comes from the lack of attention and allocation of funds into women’s football that other heavy weight countries for men’s football such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, England, Spain, etc. As those countries now pay more attention to women’s football, I would not be shocked that the level of success and talent at their disposal and as products of their own development will tremendously surpass the US in the same way that the rest of the world dominates men’s football over the men’s US team.

[@richard6440]

@yammmm9112 1 day ago Well written and well explained. One small point. Your last line. " in the same way that the rest of the world dominates men’s football over the men’s US team." We have to remember that football is the number one sport in ' most ' countries in the world. In the Usa however, they have baseball , basketball , the Nfl , ice hockey, athletics etc. These sports have a much bigger following than football does ' in the Usa'. Should football ever become the biggest sport in the Usa, which i doubt , the Usa , as a sports mad country , could increase the ... viability ? of their mens team. Their womens team will stay near the top of the rankings. The mens team ' could ' get a lot better.

[@marcallen1621]

Very true

[@jwbutler8181]

What BS to say this. Europeans had every opportunity and were always better if you listen to Akers explain this when they formed the team in the 80s they said they were very far behind Europe. So they created a DNA of the team to win and people like you and the media do not give the credit they deserve. European teams and Brazil surpassed them in the 2000s and they found a way back. Although it's about investment yes that's not the whole story on why they are successful

[@richard6440]

@@jwbutler8181 Europeans had every opportunity and were always better. I cant speak for most of the European teams, so i'll stick with England. You know the history of women's football in England? If not , here is some info. Until 1971, women were banned by the FA from using FL grounds. After Englands success in the mens WC in 1966 , the women started up clubs , but were ignored by the FA until 1971, when the FA withdrew the ban. In 1981, the FA ' recognised ' the women as footballers and promised help. Ten years later , they finally organised a womens section in the FA. All the women who played for England were amateurs. Girls , ladies, wives, mothers , with full time jobs. There was no college set up in England , the big clubs ignored them , no funding, training, or facilities. Forward to 2019. After several semi finals in major tournaments, some of the big clubs took the womens teams under their wing, as part of their club. Man Utd women didnt go pro until 4 or 5 years ago. The WSL has only been pro for 2 years. So how England had ' every opportunity ' is beyond me. Perhaps you could clarify for me , please? :) thanks.

[@johnnyyang5024]

Shes one of the best player in the NWLS her name is Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit, she's a Champion Forever, go Trinity ..........

[@Ralph_Smith0724]

*Concerning her physicality, Trini looks like the national team players used to look in the past: Tall and strong.*

[@PaulLe-jk4uq]

What a gorgeous Soccer player!!! Open it up all the wayyyy, Trinity Rodman!!! No timid but assertive, no back down but aggressive and unrelenting but ruthless on the field, be the best you can be to bring home the Gold one more time my dear !!! Go team USA 👈👍👏🌹🗽👊💥

[@Deco_2k]

Rodman and Smith is the best by far in the team, but the media down the both of them, they don't the attention and love like the one with the kid, and the LMNOP one, I think they will 3peat its too man good side at this point ..

[@michaelmitchell7350]

She is a dog that's in her DNA she is exactly what this team needs. Vlaco better start her she deserves it.

[@brittany3890]

She's got that USWNT DNA for sure. That competitive will to win.

[@Whizkidsoo]

Continue the form ! Her Sophia Alex start, she will backup Morgan smith will stay on the wing IMO her & Sanchez r gonna be huge this cup

[@Deco_2k]

Morgan is not at har best I won't pick her I was picking the squad young hungry player ready right now

[@mcoeif]

I am sure she will score a lot of goals off REBOUNDS

[@richard6440]

Football isnt basketball :)

[@adityavikrambabe]

There is a very lil small tiny element of madonna in this girl. Idek how.

[@JoshuaFazeli]

If she wins the World Cup will she get to meet Kim Jong Un?

[@richard6440]

@JoshuaFazeli 3 days ago If she won it on her own , North Korea were actually in the WWC, and it was played in North Korea, instead of New Zealand, then yes, that might happen. As it is, she is in a team , North Korea are not at the WWC, and its being played in New Zealand , which is 6,400 miles away from North Korea. Did you miss geography at school ?

[@CMJames]

Yes, Title 9 will make you ruthless

[@Deco_2k]

No they not gonna win this world cup the next world cup, if they bring in Gamero she sign with Barsa now she will be around 21 that mind, and they bring them twins them, so call in one of the twins them..

[@atty.fernandog.madarcos8724]

murica wont threepeat, no chance hehe

[@jamesnorrah1316]

Yeah they will.

[@JeanClaudeCOCO]

Watch the US win again. They haven’t even peak yet while others have peaked last year and are looking worse heading into this tournament.

[@NomenFugazi]

Agree.I don’t think they will make it to the semi finals.

[@bagoquarks]

I would agree a USWNT threepeat is not a sure thing but that's because global quality in the women's game has steadily improved. But "no chance" is not accurate. It would seem that the NWSL and USWNT victories in fighting harassment in the workplace and achieving better PA terms have opened eyes in other countries about what is possible. Some teams are in the news in 2023 concerning issues that the US aired in 2020-22. Hopefully the USWNT has these distractions behind it; other teams may be bickering on the plane. One wonders what scandals have yet to surface in countries that lack the "free press depth" enjoyed in the United States. Shout out to Meg Linehan at The Athletic.

[@victoriapark6795]

@@JeanClaudeCOCOwho has peaked tho? England? They haven’t looked good in their last couple games. Germany? Just lost to Zambia.

[@B0CAJUN10RS1995]

Ruthless until they play vs U15 academy squad…

[@patriciatorres5667]

Hope you don't ever have daughters, little man

[@cheesybellend6842]

😂😂😂

[@DavidHuston]

Wow you used to play U15? What an accomplishment 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@richard6440]

@B0CAJUN10RS1995 3 days ago Aww Bless. Having to pull up a game from 7 , yes seven , years ago , as the only thing you can think of to try and insult the team. And even then, you missed out most of the facts. You get one point for saying Academy. You can google it and have another go . I'll wait :)

[@cheesybellend6842]

Ruthless at making sandwiches