Trinity Rodman is taking the armband. The Washington Spirit forward will captain the USWNT's friendly against Paraguay on Saturday in Carson, California, and head coach Emma Hayes has set some expectations.

“I spoke with Trin at the beginning of camp to tell her she'd be the captain in the first game… We spoke about the expectations of the group and all the little details we were looking for,” Hayes told Bleacher Report.

With the squad missing leaders due to the camp falling outside the international FIFA window, Hayes set the record straight.

“When there is an absence of so many caps and so much leadership here, how are you [Rodman] transferring those values and those customs a little bit around our culture so we can steer everybody in the direction we want?” Hayes added.

The usual captain, Lindsey Horan, is not a part of the camp either. At only 23, Rodman is the most experienced player in the camp. The team as a whole averages 6.6 caps, whilst Rodman alone has 47. The roster is mainly of players from the NWSL. So it only makes sense that Hayes' plans revolve around Rodman.

“We will have two different starting lineups (for) game one and game two. I will make a maximum number of subs in both games, perhaps even as early as 45 minutes, depending on the positions of each player”, she explained.

Though it is just a friendly, Hayes is using it as an opportunity to evaluate how Rodman can manage after not featuring for the national team since April’s friendly against Brazil due to back and knee injuries. However, the capacity wasn't the only highlight for Rodman.

Tirnity Rodman Signed a Historic Deal

The captaincy news just came a day after she bagged a 3-year deal with the Washington Spirit on January 22, 2026. “I knew this was where I wanted to write the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said in a statement.

Per ESPN, Rodman will earn more than $2 million per year. Hayes, too, called the contract a “monumental achievement for the NWSL,” saying, “It means it’s a league that wants to retain its top talent.”

The coach also pointed to her personal growth. “I haven't told her this yet, but it's like, ‘You know what? You're really growing up.’”

For now, though, Hayes' instruction is simple: “I want Trin just to be Trin the football player when she's here.” How do you think Rodamn will perform as the USWNT captain? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Fatema Kapasi

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi