Meet Trinity Rodman, Daughter of NBA Legend and America’s Hope

Dennis Rodman always brought a different glow to the basketball court. With a new hair color every game, distinctive tattoos for his time and an unusual defensive commitment, the five-time NBA champion even overshadowed Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls, with whom he shared the locker rooms for three successful seasons. Now the spotlight is on his daughter, trinitybut on football pitches.

The 21-year-old, the youngest of Dennis’ three heirs, is part of the United States team, debut in the Women’s World Cup this Friday (21), against Vietnam. The Americans want their fifth World Cup trophy. The team led by Vlatko Andonovski comes to the tournament packed, with seven consecutive victories, the most recent against Wales, with two goals from Rodman. The striker, who became the youngest ever to score twice for her country, sees some similarities between her game and her father’s.

“It’s the chase. The chase for the goal, the chase when he loses the ball. That’s a big part of my game (which Dennis resembles). Even when he wasn’t the closest to the basket or when he was close to Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal), who was much bigger than him, he got the rebound. It was the timing, anticipation, body movement, positioning, that was everything. He was very smart and people take that away from him. He was an insane athlete, but one of the smartest players in the sport. He knew the game. “Trinity said.

The relationship between the two, however, is not a path of flowers. Dennis was a little present father and left his daughter’s education with her mother, Michelle Moyer, his third wife, with whom he had another son, “DJ” Rodman. The other daughter is Alexis, now 35 years old, from his first marriage to Annie Bakes.

In his documentary made by ESPN, in the series 30 for 30, Dennis says that he battles his inner demons until today and one of his biggest regrets is not having participated in Trinity’s daily life, with whom he reconnected years later. However, the player says she has not received any message from her father in her call-up for the Cup.

“I’m over it all now. I know he’s proud of me. He has his own things to sort out, but in the end, he told me he knew I would be here, and that’s all I need,” said Trinity. “My last name was always a factor, especially before I forged my own path, there were always expectations and questions before I proved myself, but my mother helped me a lot to tune into that and be something about my family and my success.”

For technical director Sandro Orlandelli, who has worked for more than a decade at Arsenal, Manchester United and the Brazilian national team, Trinity’s case is frequent in football and the pressure of a former player’s son is huge, and could get in the way of promising athletes.

“Several times I came across the children of players who had won world titles. The son may have been a good player, but with different characteristics, and the huge demand happens precisely because of this, not having the father’s characteristics and not reaching his success. But he can be successful, within his capabilities. It is as difficult to be the son of a renowned player as a player who has no support to enter the middle. They are thin lines and both with many difficulties”, said Orlandelli.

Trinity Rodman can continue to make history if they win the World Cup. The number 20 shirt is the second youngest in the American squad, behind only 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, who is rarely used in games. She, however, is the protagonist, and the local press asks for her presence as an absolute starter in the team. Commander Andonovski has not yet defined his main lineup.

EA FC, a football game by EA Sports, used the image of Trinity Rodman to announce its next version, where men and women will play together in the famous Ultimate Team mode. In addition to her, the illustration includes Pelé, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Zidane, Riquelme and Cruyff, among other personalities.

The kickoff for Trinity’s professional life took place in January 2021. At the time a student at Washington State University, the 18-year-old was selected second in the Draft by the Washington Spirit, from the NWSL, the United States women’s soccer league.

His professional debut came a few months later, in April, against the North Carolina Courage. The young woman needed just five minutes on the field to score her first career goal and have the eyes of the world turned to her.

The first call-up came at just 19 years old, in the match against the Czech Republic, in early 2022. Since then, there have been 18 more calls, four goals and three assists.

BROTHER WILL PLAY WITH LEBRON JAMES’ SON

Dennis Thayne Rodman, the DJ, Trinity’s older brother, follows in his father’s footsteps and could soon make it to the NBA. The 22-year-old and 1.98m point guard has just signed with the USC university, from California, which will play in the NCAA season.

The team is the same as that of Bronny James, the son of LeBron, star of the Los Angeles Lakers. It is very likely that both Trojans will be in the NBA Draft in 2024. LeBron has already stated that he will play with his son, no matter which team selects him. The Rodman family will also be able to continue their legacy not only on the pitch, with Trinity at the World Cup, but also on basketball’s biggest stage.