The 23-year-old was substituted onto the pitch in the second half and found the winner in stoppage time

Washington Spirit defeat Portland Thorns 2-1USWNT's Rodman scores game-winnerForward made long-awaited return from injury in matchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. women's national team forward Trinity Rodman returned from injury and scored the game-winner for the Washington Spirit as they defeated the Portland Thorns 2-1 on Sunday. Rodman, 23, made her long-awaited return, making her first appearance for the club since April after taking time away to deal with a back injury. 

On her strike, a 92nd-minute volley, she capitalized on a ball that was flicked on in the box by fellow U.S. international Croix Bethune, and she put it into the back of the net first time with her right boot. It capped off a two-goal comeback as the Spirit took three points in front of their home fans in Washington, D.C. 

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Rodman's return was a welcome sight for both the Spirit and the USWNT. She'd been battling injury for months, dating back to the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a lingering back issue causing her to be "in pain all the time."

Sunday marked Rodman's first goal of the 2025 NWSL season. In 2024, she made 26 appearances for the Spirit, scoring eight goals and recording six assists while leading them to the NWSL Championship game, where they fell short to the Orlando Pride.

For the USWNT, Rodman has amassed 47 caps, scoring 11 goals and recording nine assists.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RODMAN?

The Spirit are back in action next weekend when they take to the road to take on Gotham FC. The Spirit sit second in the NWSL standings, while the Bats sit in eighth – though just seven points separate them.