The NWSL should raise the salary cap rather than create a new rule for Rodman

The Trinity Rodman contract saga has exposed salary cap limitations across the league

Trinity Rodman accepting a player of the match award in the NWSL | Credit: Washington Spirit

I don’t always quote Demi Lovato. No, seriously. I’ve never seen ‘Camp Rock’ and never really jammed much to her tunes over the years.

But it’s the title of her latest album, ‘It’s Not That Deep’, that rings around my head when trying to grapple with whatever it is the NWSL is trying to do with their mishandling of Trinity Rodman’s new contract. It really should not have been this hard.

In case you missed this saga, Rodman’s contract with the Washington Spirit is set to expire on 31 December; she can already negotiate with new teams, and has been, at least according to her agent, talking to teams in Europe and the United States.

There are believed to be plenty of big offers on the table. Rodman even told ESPN in March 2025 that she would like to play in Europe at some point in her career.

In the wake of Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson heading off to Chelsea for major transfer fees and increased wages, this set alarm bells off for fans and the NWSL. Cue commissioner Jessica Berman announcing at a press conference days before the 2025 Championship Final that the league would “fight” for Rodman to stay.

Less than a week later, the Spirit ponies up and offers a deal that hits the salary demands for Rodman and her agent, which is believed to come in over at $1 million a season over four seasons, according to The Athletic and ESPN.