Minutes after the Washington Spirit chose Trinity Rodman with the second selection in the 2021 NWSL Draft, the comparisons began. Rodman, — like the Spirit’s 2017 signing Mallory Pugh — hadn’t played a minute of collegiate soccer and, as teenagers, leapt straight into the professional ranks. Pugh’s Spirit career lasted three seasons, and is now on her third professional team after an offseason trade to Chicago Red Stars after one 29-minute appearance with Sky Blue.
The tale of Pugh’s Spirit career is sad and filled with multiple organizational mistakes and oversights. With Rodman, the Spirit have a chance to right these wrongs.