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Washington Spirit sign Trinity Rodman to four-year, $1.1 million deal

(Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Trinity Rodman has re-signed with the Washington Spirit on a four-year deal that is reportedly worth more than $1.1 million, according to the Washington Post.

The deal is thought to possibly be the richest in NWSL history.

The Spirit, NWSL, and Rodman’s agent declined to comment on the details of the contract.

“We’re excited to re-sign Trinity and continue to support her development as a player,” said club president Ben Olsen. “She has accomplished a great deal early in her career and our focus is to provide the right environment for her to reach her potential.”

While the NWSL maximum this season is $75,000, teams are able to use allocation money to boost individual salaries. Previously, Christen Press had signed one of the largest deals in league history with Angel City FC, worth a reported $550,000 over three years.

The 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Rodman was drafted second overall in the 2021 draft and became the youngest player in league history this season. She netted seven goals and added seven assists, including on the championship-winning header by Kelley O’Hara that delivered the club its first NWSL Championship.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Trin as a part of the Spirit family for at least the next three seasons,” said head coach Kris Ward. “She has a truly special career ahead of her and makes us a better club on all fronts.”

As for why Rodman signed a long-term deal, she told the Washington Post that the team helped her with the decision. She cited the bond forged last season amid last year’s turmoil, including allegations of abuse against former coach Richie Burke and the ongoing ownership battle between Y. Michele Kang and Steve Baldwin.

“The biggest test was what we had gone through and knowing this team had my back through everything,” Rodman said. “We got through it. We built a sisterhood. We’re just going to keep building.”

The California native also said that she has “fallen in love” with Washington D.C. Despite other players making moves overseas, she said she hadn’t thought about it.

“I have grown up pretty fast, but I am young,” she said. “This first year was so good and ended so well, I hadn’t really thought about [European options]. Where I am now, I am extremely happy.”

2025 NWSL Championship Shatters Records with Viewership Topping 1 Million

General view of San Jose's PayPal Park shortly before kickoff at the 2025 NWSL Championship match.
Average viewership for the 2025 NWSL Championship match exceeded 1.18 million fans. (Kelley L Cox/NWSL via Getty Images)

The 2025 NWSL Championship claimed a major viewership milestone on Saturday, as Gotham FC's 1-0 title win over the Washington Spirit became the first-ever league match to record an average of more than one million viewers.

The CBS evening broadcast averaged an impressive 1.184 million fans and peaked at 1.55 million viewers, making it the most-watched NWSL match of all time.

The 2025 final marked a 22% viewership increase over the 967,900 fans who watched 2024's Orlando Pride victory — the previous NWSL viewership record-holder — and a 45% ratings gain over Gotham's 2023 championship win, which averaged 816,800 viewers.

Saturday's gains both matched the 22% viewership increase the NWSL regular season saw this year and also far exceeded the 2025 postseason's pre-final year-over-year increase of 5%.

Calling the one-million viewer mark "an extraordinary achievement" in Tuesday's league statement, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman also noted that the "record-setting audience demonstrates the deepening connection fans have with our players, our clubs, and the world-class competition on the field, and it underscores the growing demand for women's soccer on the biggest stages."

"We're incredibly proud of what this moment represents for the NWSL and for everyone who continues to invest in and believe in the future of our game," Berman added.

More WNBA Stars Sign with Project B Days Before Extended CBA Deadline Is Set to Expire

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell looks on during a 2025 WNBA game.
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell is one of the most recent WNBA stars to join offseason upstart Project B. (Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)

Incoming offseason league Project B scored more major WNBA signings this week, as the upstart venture continues stacking its roster ahead of a planned November 2026 launch.

Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both publicly signed on with Project B, joining already announced talent like Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, and Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd.

Also inking deals to join the inaugural season of Project B are Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, and Li Meng, a former Washington Mystics guard and current player in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association.

The multi-continent, Formula One-style traveling tournament circuit will ultimately sign 66 international stars, as Project B looks to field six 11-player teams in its debut 2026/2027 campaign.

Project B player signings will undoubtedly impact other offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, but the new venture is also looming large over the ongoing WNBA CBA talks.

With negotiations racing toward this Sunday's extended deadline, Project B is putting WNBA compensation offerings under increased pressure, as the new league is reportedly anteing up multimillion-dollar salaries to its signees — far exceeding the 2025 WNBA maximum as well as the $1.1 million-max currently on the negotiating table.

Spain Shoots for 2nd Straight Nations League Title in 2025 Final vs. Germany

Spain players run toward attacker Alexia Putellas to celebrate her goal during the 2025 Nations League semifinals.
Spain will take on Germany in the first leg of the 2025 Nations League final on Friday. (Linnea Rheborg - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.

The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.

Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.

To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.

Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.

While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.

Iowa Basketball Keeps Delivering in Post-Caitlin Clark Era

Iowa guard Journey Houston takes a selfie with fans after a 2025/26 NCAA basketball game.
The No. 11 Iowa Hawkeyes have already scored a Top-25 win in the early 2025/26 NCAA basketball season. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

A full 19 months removed from their back-to-back Final Four runs, No. 11 Iowa basketball refuses to go away, with the Hawkeyes already notching one Top-25 win in the young 2025/26 NCAA campaign so far.

The still-unbeaten Hawkeyes took down No. 15 Baylor 57-52 last Thursday, with Iowa starting post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combining for 28 points while guard Taylor Stremlow added another 12 off the bench in the marquee win.

"We have nice pieces," said Iowa head coach Jan Jensen this week. "But it's knowing when to play which pieces and with whom, and we're six games in."

The Hawkeyes have been finding their new identity under Jensen after a transformative period saw Iowa's longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retire while superstar guard Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA.

"Jan's been amazing," Stuelke told JWS at the Big Ten Media Day in October. "She stepped up like she needed to, and she's been growing every day since she's been the head coach, which it's really cool to see she cares. And it's a great environment for all of us."

"I have a year under my belt," Jensen echoed. "I know what this chair feels like now, and I have a little better of understanding of what that first road trip feels like, what that first big win feels like, or the tough loss feels like."

Iowa's season heats up with a ranked rivalry matchup against No. 10 Iowa State on Wednesday, December 10th.

The state rivals will tip off at 7 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.