What is happening with Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman? Rejected $1 million/year offer, Washington Spirit's fight with NWSL & more explained

Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman is currently a free agent after her previous contract with the Washington Spirit expired at the end of the 2025 NWSL season, with the team from the US capital finishing it as the runner-up. However, NWSL's rejection of the team's new and lucrative contract for the talented forward has led to the league's official players association making a significant move that could have a telling impact on Rodman's future.

Reports suggested that the new four-year contract offered the 23-year-old more than $1 million on average per year. However, reportedly, it involved backloaded compensation terms and the NWSL saw this as Rodman trying to bypass the league's existing salary cap for registered players.

Now, the NWSLPA has stepped up to back Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman. The players association has filed a grievance against the league, alleging that its decision to dismiss the new contract was a violation of Rodman's free agent rights and multiple sections of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which according to the association, the lucrative contract complies with.

Despite the rejection of the contract raising concerns about the forward's future in the NWSL, through a statement it gave to CBS Sports, it laid bare its goal of seeing Rodman continuing her club soccer career in the league.

"Our goal is to ensure that the very best players in the world, including Trinity, continue to call this league home. We will continue to do everything we can, utilizing every lever available within our rules to keep Trinity Rodman here," NWSL stated.

Ben Shelton's girlfriend Trinity Rodman turned to American ATP star for support after her NWSL 2025 season ended in heartbreak

Trinity Rodman being consoled by boyfriend Ben Shelton after Washington Spirit's loss in the 2025 NWSL Championship match (Source: Getty)

Washington Spirit suffered a 0-1 loss to Gotham FC in the finale of the 2025 NWSL season, condemning Trinity Rodman and her teammates to a runner-up finish for the second straight year. Rodman wasn't fit enough to start the match but was brought on as a second-half substitute.

In the immediate aftermath of the result, the forward, heartbroken, walked all the way to boyfriend Ben Shelton, who was standing pitchside. Shelton, empathizing with his emotional girlfriend, shared a warm embrace with her. Later, Rodman delivered a self-critical verdict on her performance in the final as a substitute, saying:

"As much as I don't want to admit it, I still don't feel like I was my full self tonight, which sucks. I feel like this is the second year I've gone to a final not feeling myself. So it just makes me sad. But yeah, for me, I was just trying to go out there and do what I could. I definitely underperformed."

Shelton's end to the 2025 tennis season was also a disappointing one, as his ATP Finals debut finished with an early exit following losses in all his Round Robin phase matches.