It was quite the occasion on Thursday, as Spirit owner Michele Kang, president of soccer operations Haley Carter and CEO Kim Stone shared the announcement in Los Angeles at BMO Stadium. Rodman, was already in LA ahead of the U.S. Women's National team's game against Paraguay on Saturday in Carson, Calif.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am. I had to wait for this for a long time," Kang said at the press conference.
Rodman stressed that the familiarity of being in the D.C. area and the Spirit's ambition in wanting to contend made the decision easy.
“I’ve made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career,” Rodman said. “I’m proud of what we’ve built since my rookie season, and I’m excited about where this club is headed. We’re chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can’t wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL.”
Rodman has made an impact for the Spirit since her first season, earning 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year honors and also recording the championship-winning assist that year. Since her first professional season, she's managed to become the youngest player in league history to reach 50 career goal contributions. She also currently holds the Spirit's all-time assists record, surpassing USWNT legend Crystal Dunn with 14 assists in a regular season.