Two young stars set to define next era for NWSL

Trinity Rodman: Marketability and cultural reach

Rodman offers a different kind of case. Drafted second overall in 2021 at 18, she was the youngest player ever to enter the league. Her rookie season featured seven goals, seven assists and the decisive assist in Washington’s championship win. She was named Rookie of the Year and U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year.

A year later she signed a four-year extension worth $1.1 million, the largest guaranteed deal in league history at that time. That agreement was more than a personal milestone. It set a new benchmark for player compensation in women’s soccer.

Rodman’s influence extends beyond the pitch. She has starred in Adidas campaigns, including the F50 Sparkfusion project, and appeared with Red Bull. According to Adidas, the F50 initiative was designed to highlight women’s players as global marketing leaders. Those partnerships made Rodman one of the most visible figures in the league, with recognition stretching beyond soccer’s core fan base.

Two superstars, two measures of value

Comparing the two highlights what the NWSL must decide about its future. Smith’s accolades, goal-scoring and record-setting contract confirm her as the league’s most dominant on-field figure. Rodman’s impact is broader, anchored in cultural relevance and brand power that push the league into new commercial spaces. 

The next face of the league

With Morgan’s jersey now hanging in San Diego, the handoff feels official. The NWSL is no longer looking for a complement to its legends but for the figure who will define its future. Whether that role belongs to Smith, with her sustained excellence as a striker, or to Rodman, with her marketability and cultural reach, the league can take comfort in knowing it has two young stars whose influence extends beyond their clubs. The next decade of women’s professional soccer in the United States will be defined by one or both of them.