Rarely do finals turn out to be great. When it comes to one game, teams tend to prioritize no mistakes over getting brave, and wait for their chance. The stakes become impossible to ignore as nerves play their part.
The feeling before the final started was that it might be the same. The Chicago Red Stars were always going to try and gum things up and hope that Rachel Hill and Mallory Pugh could create something on the counter to win the game, because they were 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 The Washington Spirit were aware of that, and were wary of being countered in the first half.
It's rare for a player to grab the game by the ankle, hang it upside down, and shake it until lunch money falls out. Haley is rare when a player is a rookies. Magic Johnson is the only name that comes to mind. Trinity Rodman can be added to that list now.
The Red Stars plan for the past few weeks has been to put the middle in front of their defense, force teams to attack out wide, and give those wide players no options. The Portland Thorns were the best team in the league. The Red Stars tactics gave Rodman the platform, but that makes it even more impressive. Chicago wanted to let her have the ball and then build walls around her. Rodman took a lot of damage to those.
Rodman was a dervish from both flanks. Dribbling through two or three players at a time, frightening the fullback with the threat of her speed just going past them, and when the Spirit were trailing, shooting from everywhere and setting up teammates. The Red Stars allowed only a touch hero-ball at points. If you have someone who can make hero-ball work...
The Spirit were down by a goal at the start of the second half. She set up the penalty that equalized, chasing down the ball after losing the initial head and threading the ball into the box to Tara McKeown, who was then free.
This was after Rodman almost equalized herself when she turned her opponent, and then unleashed this ICBM that will have the post waking up in cold sweats for years.
Rodman assisted the winner in extra-time with a cross so surgical that it should be seen by med students.
Reducing Rodman's performance to her goal contributions wouldn't be fair. Everyone in Louisville held their breath when Rodman touched the ball in the second half. This was the beginning of what Rodman will do, and will almost certainly be referred to as the beginning. It feels like it will be Ballon D'ors in the not too distant future.
Rodman ended the game with eight shots, three on target, five chances created, five dribbles succeeded, and four key passes. She is just 19 and already dominates the league's biggest game while still a teenager.
It is a shame that we won't get to see her in the upcoming friendly in Australia as she is the future of the USWNT. It is more disappointing that it is due to Rodman's unvaccinated status. They are only friendly, and there may still be a day when COVID isn't with us or still a major part of our lives. The summer of 2023 is what matters. Rodman has the audacity on the ball. Megan Rapinoe could retire or exit the scene if Rodman starts to lose his mind.
Those debates can be held later. Being 19 years old, you don't know you're not supposed to win a championship game on your own, or you're brave enough to know you can. No destination is out of reach if Rodman starts here.
