'bad boy of the court' former NBA player Dennis Rodman's (65) daughter, Trinity Rodman (23), rewrote the history of women's soccer worldwide.
The British Daily Mail reported on the 23rd (Korea time) that Washington Spirit forward Rodman of the U.S. women's professional soccer National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) signed a three-year contract extension with the club that runs through 2028, receiving an average of $1 million per year (about 150 million won) or more.
This amount is the highest ever for a female soccer player worldwide. The previous record was held by U.S. women's national team teammate Sophia Wilson (26, Portland Thorns), but with this contract Rodman has rightfully taken the title of 'salary queen'.
Rodman's contract was decisively influenced by the will of Korean-American businesswoman Michelle Kang (67, Korean name Kang Yong-mi), the club owner. After last season ended, Rodman became a free agent (FA) and received astronomical offers from big European clubs including those in England.
Rodman's retention was uncertain because of the NWSL's strict salary cap rules. However, club owner Michelle Kang persuaded the league office and led the creation of a 'high impact player' rule similar to Major League Soccer's (MLS) 'designated player', successfully keeping Rodman.
At the contract announcement, club owner Michelle Kang expressed satisfaction, saying, "Personally and on behalf of all Spirit members, we are deeply grateful that she decided to spend three more years with us despite having many other very attractive options."
Rodman also said, "I have made the DMV (Washington metropolitan area) my home and the Spirit my family, and I was sure this is where I wanted to start the next chapter of my career."
She added, "I am proud of what we have built together since my rookie season, and I am excited about the direction this club is heading. We are chasing championships and raising the standard. I am thrilled to continue that journey with the NWSL's best fans and my teammates on this team."
Drafted second overall by Washington in the 2021 draft, where she won rookie of the year and a championship simultaneously, Rodman has now risen as an icon of the world's highest market value with the full support of the Korean-American club owner. Rodman has 47 caps, 11 goals and 9 assists for the U.S. national team.
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