Two Olympic newcomers from Orange County will be hoping to contribute to Team USA’s quest for gold in women’s soccer at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Newport Beach native Trinity Rodman and Huntington Beach native Jenna Nighswonger have been selected among the 18 players on the Olympic roster by coach Emma Hayes.
Rodman and Nighswonger are part of the nine Olympic debutants on the roster, with Nighswonger being one of four who will be competing in their first senior level world championship.
Trinity Rodman at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on June 27, 2023.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Rodman, 22, is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman. She started her soccer journey at Corona del Mar High before transferring to JSerra.
She was selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL College Draft and later received the Rookie of the Year award for her outstanding performance.
During the FIFA Women’s World Cup last summer in Australia and New Zealand, Rodman represented Team USA but unfortunately was eliminated by Sweden in penalty kicks in the round of 16.
Jenna Nighswonger has been excelling at left back for the U.S. women’s national team.
(Courtesy of Getty Images / U.S. Soccer)
Nighswonger, 23, played soccer at Huntington Beach High until her junior year. After a successful stint at Florida State, she was drafted by NJ/NY Gotham FC and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.
She has also played as an outside back for the U.S. women’s national team, contributing to their victory in the Concacaf W Gold Cup championship in March.
The Team USA women’s Olympic soccer team has a history of winning four Olympic gold medals, the most recent being in 2012.
The competition in Paris is set to commence on July 25, with Team USA placed in a group alongside Zambia, Germany, and Australia.
