28 August 2023 , 12:35
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USA star Trinity Rodman pulled off a sensational skill as her Washington Spirit secured a draw with the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League.
The daughter of Chicago Bulls legend Dennis, Rodman has gone on to make her own name as her famous family have swapped the basketball court for the football pitch. The 21-year-old forward is one of the best young stars in world football, despite her nation’s struggles at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Her father Dennis surged to prominence with the Detroit Pistons but became an NBA cult hero as he starred alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with the Bulls. He was known for his unique look featuring plenty of piercings, tattoos and unique hairstyles alongside dramatic romances with Carmen Electra and Madonna.
Instead, Rodman does her talking with her feet. On Sunday, she exhibited an impressive piece of skill that went viral on social media as the forward pulled off a reverse nutmeg before using her body feint to evade two defenders in a single dribble.
TRINITY RODMAN
(via @WashSpirit) pic.twitter.com/V7hXpbYj08LeBron James edges closer to NBA scoring record with jaw-dropping Lakers display
— B/R Football (@brfootball)
While her father dominated on the defensive end of the floor, Rodman is excelling as an attacker as the skill showcased. The 1-1 draw with Portland was a pulsating contest, with Morgan Weaver scoring to give the Thorns the lead before Ashley Hatch levelled for the Spirit in the last minute of the game.
Rodman has emerged as one of the brightest young players in women’s football. At 18, she became the youngest drafted player in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history and was named in the NWSL Best XI alongside both NWSL Rookie of the Year and US Soccer Young Female Player of the Year honours.
Her rookie season saw Rodman score six goals and add seven assists as her Washington Spirit won the league title, leading to the Spirit making the 21-year-old the highest paid player in NWSL history. She signed a four-year deal worth $1.1 million (£900,000) and has since added 11 goals in 33 appearances since.
Rodman - born in 2002, two years after her father’s final NBA game - turned down offers to play for a number of major European clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United, but she decided to stay put in North America. It has proved to be the correct move; she was nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin for her performances in 2022, which included her debut for the USWNT at the 2022 SheBelieves Cup.
Rodman reportedly used to pull up clips of Dennis’ career, studying his anticipation and positioning before translating it to soccer. Before the World Cup, Rodman said: “I watched my dad play a lot more than people really know. Obviously, my dad was pretty good at rebounding.”