Trinity Rodman marks 'fresh start' with goal in USWNT return - ESPN

United States women's national team coach Emma Hayes heralded a «fresh start» for Trinity Rodman after the forward scored in just her second match since the 2024 Olympics in Saturday's 6-0 rout of Paraguay.

The goal for Rodman capped off a memorable week, coming days after she signed a new contract with the Washington Spirit that, according to her agent, makes her the highest-paid women's player in the world.

The match in Carson, California, was her first for the U.S. since a 2-0 friendly win against Brazil this past April, which was her only international appearance in 2025 because of back and knee injuries.

«I'm happy for her, I really am,» Hayes said. «It was a hard year, as we know. And she's ready to move forward, which I think today symbolizes that this is a fresh year. It's a fresh start for her.

»She's settled, she's happy. I think knowing what her future is, this is a big weight off of her shoulders."

Rodman was a menace on the right flank throughout the match, and her 56th-minute tally saw her collect a ball on the right wing from defender Tara Rudd, cut inside and sneak her shot just inside the near post. She followed up the goal with a dance that she tried, and failed, to get Hayes to mirror on the U.S. sideline.

«The whole game, was telling Tara, I was like, 'Please, play one over the top. Come on, we got this,'» Rodman said in a postmatch interview on the TNT broadcast.

«And then she again just had so much time and I finally just called for it, played a perfect little ball, cut it back, and then when it went in, I was like, 'Alright, it's my time to shine.'»

The U.S. dominated from start to finish, but the finishing touch proved elusive in the first half until Reilyn Turner — who was one of three players