When it comes to attacking talent, few sides in world football boast the options that the U.S. women's national team has at its disposal. Emma Hayes is spoiled for choice in the final third, with Trinity Rodman among the top talents.
Rodman has proven a threatening proposition for opposing fullbacks, capable of whipping in fearsome crosses or cutting inside and unleashing venomous strikes towards the cage. She proved as much in the USWNT's Olympic opener against Zambia, in which she scored the opening goal of the 3-0 victory.
The strike was the sort of finish fans have come to expect out of Rodman, who has already earned 41 caps for her country at the tender age of 22. Rodman is no stranger to a big moment.
Perhaps clutch athletic genes run in the family. If the Rodman name looks familiar, that's because it is. Here's what you need to know about Trinity Rodman's connection to her famous father, basketball icon Dennis Rodman.
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Is Trinity Rodman related to Dennis Rodman?
Trinity Rodman is Dennis Rodman's daughter. She's the youngest of two children the former NBA star had with Michelle Moyer; Rodman also has an older brother named DJ.
The Rodman siblings were primarily raised by their mother after Moyer filed for divorce from Dennis Rodman. And although Trinity Rodman credits her father for her and her brother's athletic prowess — DJ played for USC men's basketball in 2023-24 — he isn't an active presence in his children's lives.
"With my dad I'm just so thankful, obviously he was an amazing athlete and I got those genes from him," Rodman told Goal in 2021. "But I'm excited to be known as Trinity Rodman and not just Dennis Rodman's daughter, so I'm excited to pave my own path and get better throughout this journey."
Rodman has certainly done that so far, garnering numerous pieces of hardware since being selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft. She lifted an NWSL title in her rookie season, capturing Rookie of the Year and Best XI honors in the process. In 2022, she made her national team debut.
And now she's one of the USWNT's most important players, a mystifying blend of speed and skillfulness who has become one of Hayes' go-to starters since her arrival as head coach in May.
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When citing her inspirations, Rodman pays special mention to her mother, who she describes as her "support system." Moyer also has a competitive streak of her own, one that has made a mark on her daughter.
“Having a dad like I do, no one asks about my mom because she’s obviously not an NBA star, but I just want people to know that my mom’s been my support system in everything in life and she’s my best friend and my rock,” Rodman told The Guardian in 2021. “I don’t think people know how close we are and, even though she wasn’t in the NBA, she has an extremely competitive and driven mindset, and she’s an extremely strong woman. She’s my role model.”
USWNT fans will be grateful for Moyer's efforts. Not only is Rodman one of the most well-respected members of Hayes' squad, she's also one of its best. Expect for her to continue to prove that fact throughout the Olympics.
