Trinity Rodman spent most of 2025 off the pitch due to a back injury, and just two months after returning to the field, was left screaming in pain after getting fouled at the SheBelieves Cup. On Sunday, the U.S. women’s national team played against the Argentina women’s national football team, beating them 2-0, but not without injury.
Rodman was waiting on the sideline for a pass from Gisele Thompson when 18-year-old Argentine defender Milagros Martín barreled into her with force.
© GettyThe contact sent Rodman crumpling to the grass, screaming in pain and grabbing her lower back as she fell to her knees and rolled around in pain.
© GettyThe referee issued a yellow card, but the damage was done. The crowd, which had already been frustrated by what they felt were missed calls, went quiet as they heard her yelps.
Anyone following the sport knows about Rodman’s injury. The 23-year-old only recently returned to international play in January 2026 after battling a lingering back injury that derailed much of her 2025 season with the Washington Spirit.
© GettyIn April of last year, she was sidelined indefinitely. By May, she was posting grueling physical therapy sessions on Instagram, shutting down critics in the caption. At the time, she was getting hate for showing up at her boyfriend, US tennis star Ben Shelton’s, matches.
“Yes, I’m grinding almost every day in PT to get back on the field… No, I’m not just being a WAG and vacationing 🙂 Thank you,” she wrote.
Rodman’s been transparent that her back injury isn’t something that can just go away. “It’s not one specific thing, it’s just the way that my back’s structured,” she previously explained. “I don’t think my back will ever be the way it was in my rookie year, which is unfortunate.”
She’s admitted she was playing through pain before finally stepping away in 2025, saying it was the accumulation of heavy minutes and strain. She attempted a return, which was pushed back again after a knee sprain in October.
So when she rejoined the national team this year, just days after signing a contract extension that made her the highest-paid player in the NWSL and one of the highest-paid women’s players in the world, fans were hopeful she would stay on the field.
© GettyWhile Rodman likely won’t be returning to the tournament, she was thankfully able to walk off the field, assisted by trainers. She was stratching, bouncing, and jogging on the sidelines, so hopefully she will be back soon. Coach Emma Hayes did not provide an update.
Team USA’s next game at the Cup is tomorrow against Canada.
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