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O’Hara Questions Spirit’s Decision After Trinity Rodman’s Scary Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Oct 20, 2025 1:32 PM ET

Trinity Rodman suffered an MCL sprain during the match between the Washington Spirit and Monterrey for the fifth round of the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Rodman, 23, left the field on crutches during the first half of the game, just a few hours after having been called up to the USWNT for the first time since April, for the November camp.

Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez gave a positive update on his star player, noting that the results of her medical study were the "best case scenario," and that the team will manage her recovery on a "day-by-day" basis.

After suffering this setback just days before the NWSL playoffs begin, Kelley O'Hara criticized Gonzalez's decision to field Rodman in the game against Monterrey.

Kelley O’Hara Reacts to Trinity Rodman’s Injury - 'Is It Worth Risking?'

Speaking to CBS Sports' W Golazo, O'Hara pointed out that it didn't make much sense for Spirit's #2 to get minutes in a nearly irrelevant match.

"This game was to go out on top of their group. And the question is, does she needs to be playing?," she said. "That's my first thought. Is it worth her risking injury? But I just… she looked like she was in a lot of pain. It just is very, it's a very scary moment for her specifically, but also for Spirit."

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The dates and times for the NWSL playoffs will be announced in the first week of January, with the quarterfinals taking place on November 7-9 and the semifinals on November 15-16.

According to estimates from Banner Health, the recovery time for an MCL sprain can range from two to eight weeks, depending on the severity.

Darian Jenkins also expressed concern for Rodman, especially because she had been having back problems.

"My heart goes out to her just knowing, I mean, we all know when you go through rehab after being out for so long with the back injury she had, and then you're finally feeling yourself finally getting into playing form, and then this happens," Jenkins said.

"It's unfortunate, but I think from that back injury, she has that muscle of she knows what she needs to do. I'm glad that we saw her, at least in lighter spirits with crutches after the game, looking more like herself," she added.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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