NWSL Historian Snubs Trinity Rodman, Favouring Alex Morgan, and Injured Star for USWNT’s Ideal Olympic Attacking Trio

Published 03/13/2024, 4:40 AM EDT

Trinity Rodman added her 4th major silverware with the USWNT after beating Brazil to win the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. But from an individual standpoint, she did not have a great run in the tournament. The 21-year-old misfired in the W Gold Cup, despite starting for the US team in 5 matches. Meanwhile, rising star forward Jaedyn Shaw emerged as the tournament’s best player with 4 goals. Besides, Alex Morgan returned to the US squad and proved her mettle. Now, NWSL’s current Information Director and women’s soccer historian Jen Cooper has hinted the USWNT should replace Rodman with a star who’s been injured to galvanize its frontline for the upcoming Olympics.

Cooper placed her bet on star striker Mallory Swanson instead of Trinity Rodman to join Morgan and Shaw to amp up the USWNT’s attack in the 2024 Paris Olympics.“To me the biggest question mark that has to be resolved in that pecking order is Swanson,” Jen Cooper said on Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast. “I think she scored in every game before she got injured. I think she is really going to upend the apple cart. I kind of see her starting over Rodman. I could see a Morgan-Shaw-Swanson kind of starting lineup,” the veteran analyst continued.

Mallory Swanson started 2023 in electric form. She scaled a personal record of scoring in six consecutive USWNT games. Her goal tally for the US side stood at an impressive 7 goals before April. However, in April, Swanson tore her left patella tendon and was ruled out. Nonetheless, Swanson remained the US team’s top goal scorer for 2023, with the seven goals she scored. Hence, it is no surprise that Jen Cooper badly wants the 25-year-old to resume action.

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Trinity Rodman’s USWNT scoring drought puts her Olympic contention in jeopardy

Seven games, including friendlies and the CONCACAF W Gold Cup matches, have passed since Trinity Rodman last scored a goal for the USWNT. Let alone scoring, she only managed one assist in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. USWNT’s new boss, Emma Hayes, would perhaps consider Rodman’s drop and look for an alternative.

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The USWNT awaits competitive games at the SheBelieves Cup in April. Thereafter, the US plays friendlies against South Korea. If Rodman bucks the misfiring trend in these games, she will have a better shot at Olympic participation. If not, as pointed out by Cooper, Mallory Swanson could walk back into the American roster.

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Written by:

Krishna Prasad is Soccer Writer at EssentiallySports. Unlike others, his journey as a sports enthusiast was not colored by soccer initially. The 2006 FIFA World Cup, however, changed his perspective, as the beautiful game took up a small space in his heart.

Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz

NWSL Historian Snubs Trinity Rodman, Favouring Alex Morgan, and Injured Star for USWNT’s Ideal Olympic Attacking Trio

Trinity Rodman’s USWNT scoring drought puts her Olympic contention in jeopardy

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