Dennis Rodman’s Daughter, Trinity, Leads U.S. Women’s Soccer To Victory In Olympic Opener

Trinity Rodman’s spectacular debut goal highlighted the U.S. women’s national team’s commanding 3-0 victory over Zambia in their Olympic opener Thursday night.

Rodman, the daughter of basketball star Dennis Rodman, made her first Olympic appearance, showcasing her skill with a remarkable spin move in the 17th minute, leaving defender Martha Tembo off-balance before calmly slotting the ball past Zambian goalkeeper Ngambo Musole.

“It was purely instinctual,” Rodman said of her move, which she dubbed the “Trin Spin.” “I knew taking a touch forward would have pushed me out of scoring position, so I tried to throw her off balance. It worked perfectly.”

Mallory Swanson added two quick goals, setting a new team record for the shortest time between scores. Her first came in the 24th minute off a pass from Lindsey Horan, followed by another just 66 seconds later, assisted by Sophia Smith. Swanson’s double strike broke Carli Lloyd‘s previous record of 2 minutes, 19 seconds, set in the 2015 Women’s World Cup final.

New U.S. coach Emma Hayes expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance in her major tournament debut. “The first part of the opening half was exceptional,” Hayes said. “Our intention, intensity, decision-making, and execution were all there. We could have easily been up by five at halftime.”

Hayes made cautious substitutions, removing Smith in the first half after an ankle knock and Rose Lavelle early in the second half due to an ongoing leg injury. The status of Jaedyn Shaw, who was scratched before the game with a leg injury, remains uncertain.

Despite the convincing win, the U.S. team knows tougher challenges lie ahead. They face Germany on Sunday in Marseille, a match that will provide a more significant test of their championship aspirations.

Rodman emphasized the team’s desire to showcase their technical skills alongside their athleticism. “Our connections are improving with every game,” she said, highlighting the growing chemistry among the U.S. attackers.

The U.S. women’s next match is scheduled for Sunday against the Netherlands, a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.

In April, U.S. women’s star Crystal Dunn spoke to uInterview exclusively. “We’re in a new kind of era,” Dunn said. “There’s a lot of new faces, which makes it feel that way, and also a new head coach. So there’s a lot of change that’s been going on.”