Despite all the excess baggage and noise that came with him, Rodman was an outstanding player and a true entertainer, which seems to have been inherited by his daughter Trinity.
It is inevitable that Trinity, being the daughter of a colorful and high-profile sportsman and prominent figure, is often asked about her father and his career. It is unfair to Trinity that she has to make a name for herself while carrying the legacy of her father on the back of her shirt. Perhaps she deserves a chance to establish her own identity away from her father’s name.
Trinity Rodman, one of the biggest stars in US Soccer, recently received a four-year contract worth a staggering $1.1 million from Washington Spirit, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League, making her the highest paid player in league history.
The Balon d’Or, ultimately finishing in 18th place in the vote, she was also nominated for the most prestigious individual prize of them all. ‘Rookie of the Year’, ‘US Soccer Best Young Player’ and NSWL Best XI, she received almost all the accolades you can achieve in a rookie season after becoming the youngest ever player drafted. After being chosen second by Washington Spirit at only 18 years old in January 2021, she was given such a profitable contract after witnessing the impact she has made in her first couple of seasons playing in the League. It’s not difficult to comprehend why.
This year, Shaquille O’Neil, a legend from the NBA, announced on the official Instagram page of the USWNT that he sent a funny congratulatory message to confirm her place in Vlatko Andonovski’s World Cup roster. She had an excellent performance, managing to score four goals and provide two assists, which helped her secure her place in the league.
Trinity maintains communication with her father, even though their relationship may not be deemed “conventional.” She has dedicated countless hours to observing his basketball highlights, which have aided her in improving specific elements of her soccer skills. In fact, the winger openly admitted that despite their infrequent communication, Dennis has played a significant role in her development.
“I think that something that appears on a leg, a leg joint, a skull, a lower extremity, a person who is the first to obtain, being the act of retracing one’s steps, the activity of reading a game, is a huge part of the game that I believe. When you misplace the ball, the objective of pursuing is to regain possession in front of the goal and in soccer, rebounding is quite excellent: I obviously think so,” she stated during the USWNT’s press conference last week. “I have watched my father play a lot more than I really know.”
“At the end of the day, I believe he was the smartest player of all time, but he was also an incredibly talented and unique athlete. I think he was so impressive because he had a natural ability and intelligence that set him apart from others. It was everything from his positioning to his body movement, anticipation, and timing. He knew exactly how to go after rebounds, even if he was going up against taller and bigger players like Shaq. And even if he wasn’t the first guy under the basket, he always found a way to make things happen.” She concluded.
She will be determined to make a big statement. Trinity now has the chance to display her talent on the biggest stage of the summer, the World Cup. If she continues to improve and grow at such a rate, she is more likely to become one of the great female footballers of her generation, and Trinity is a huge prospect for football. Sports is certainly something that runs in the Rodman family.