NWSL: Washington Spirit press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Jan 22, 2026 Los Angeles, California, USA Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit answers questions during a press conference at BMO Stadium. Los Angeles BMO Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKiyoshixMiox 20260122_mio_ma1_037
NWSL: Washington Spirit press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Jan 22, 2026 Los Angeles, California, USA Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit answers questions during a press conference at BMO Stadium. Los Angeles BMO Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKiyoshixMiox 20260122_mio_ma1_037
Ben Shelton didn't hold back when reflecting on what it meant to see Trinity Rodman in his player box during the biggest moment of his career so far.
Fresh off a hard-fought loss to Alexander Zverev in the 2026 US Open final, the American star spoke with clear emotion about the effort his girlfriend made just to be there.
"Yeah, I mean, it means everything," Shelton said as per an Instagram post shared by @espnW. "I knew she was coming. I knew it was gonna be pretty close to impossible to get here. But even just making the effort and trying is insane."
Rodman had played a match for the Washington Spirit earlier that same day in the D.C. area before making the roughly 200-mile trip to Arthur Ashe Stadium, arriving in time to catch the later stages of the final. It was a tight turnaround that spoke to how much the couple prioritizes showing up for each other despite schedules that rarely line up.
February 15, 2026, Frisco, Texas, USA: USA WomenÃââ s soccer player TRINITY RODMAN and BEN SHELTON USA react after a menÃââ s singles final match at the 2026 Nexo Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Ben Shelton won the Dallas Open singles title after defeating Taylor Fritz, 3:6, 6:3, 7:5. Frisco USA - ZUMAh193 20260215_zsp_h193_044 Copyright: xDanielxMcGregor-Huyerx
February 15, 2026, Frisco, Texas, USA: USA WomenÃââ s soccer player TRINITY RODMAN and BEN SHELTON USA react after a menÃââ s singles final match at the 2026 Nexo Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Ben Shelton won the Dallas Open singles title after defeating Taylor Fritz, 3:6, 6:3, 7:5. Frisco USA - ZUMAh193 20260215_zsp_h193_044 Copyright: xDanielxMcGregor-Huyerx
Shelton addressed the timing with a mix of humor and honesty.
"I guess she kinda showed up as I was losing, which for her probably sucked, you know?" he said, as per an Instagram post shared by @espnW. "
Shelton and Rodman went public in March 2025, and since then have become one of the more visible young couples in American sports. Rodman has regularly shown up in Shelton's box at tournaments, including his title runs in Dallas and Stuttgart, while Shelton has made a point of attending Washington Spirit games whenever his own schedule allows it.
Both have spoken openly about the value of dating someone who understands what elite-level competition actually demands physically and mentally.
Rodman’s own game didn’t go her way
While the sports world's attention on Sunday was locked on Ben Shelton's US Open final appearance, Trinity Rodman had a match of her own, and it didn't end well.
Rodman's Washington Spirit fell 3-0 to Boston Legacy in NWSL regular-season play, a rough result for a team that entered the day sitting second in the standings. Boston, an expansion side battling near the bottom of the table at 7-12-5, scored all three goals late, as per Boston Herald.
The game stayed scoreless until the 81st minute, when Aïssata Traore capitalized on a forced turnover. She sneaked the ball through a defender's legs and off the post. Boston added two more in stoppage time, one from near midfield after goalkeeper Sandy MacIver was caught out of position, and another off a close-range finish.
A potential penalty for Washington was overturned by VAR in the 69th minute, a moment that could have changed the game's shape entirely.
Despite the loss, Rodman made the trip north to Arthur Ashe Stadium to support Shelton in his own final. The Spirit now look to regroup as the NWSL season winds down.
What do you think of Rodman’s support for Shelton despite her own loss?
Written by
Zaid Quraishi