Ben Shelton found himself in a role far removed from the tennis court on Saturday night as he wrapped girlfriend Trinity Rodman in a long embrace, kissing her on the forehead while she broke down in tears after the Washington Spirit’s heartbreaking loss in the 2025 NWSL Championship. The tender moment became one of the most emotional images from the final.
What Went Wrong for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Final?
Washington entered the championship showdown hoping to reclaim the glory it last tasted in 2021, but instead, the match at PayPal Park in San Jose ended in an all-too-familiar manner. For the second straight year, the Spirit finished as runners-up, falling 1-0 to Gotham FC, whose lone goal came in the 80th minute from Rose Lavelle.
Washington ended the game without a single shot on target (despite several attempts), while Gotham managed 12 total shots and three on target. The decisive play came when a left-footed strike by Lavelle found the bottom corner after a cross from teammate Bruninha.
Rodman, a key figure for the Spirit and a rising star in U.S. women’s soccer, entered the match amid injury concerns and contract-rumour headlines. Rodman came on as a substitute in the 57th minute. Her performance didn’t register chances or shots.
After the final whistle, Rodman was visibly emotional. Reports show her hugging her boyfriend, Shelton, in tears as the reality of the loss sank in.
Trinity Rodman gets support from boyfriend Ben Shelton after her Washington Spirit lost in the NWSL Final to Gotham FC 🫶 pic.twitter.com/8lAJSlGXCH
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 23, 2025
Trinity Rodman Highlighted the Impact of Ben Shelton’s Presence Before the Title Match
In her chat with CBS Sports, Rodman was asked how she stays focused and composed before a big match. She said her way of handling pressure goes far beyond the field. Along with music and board games, she added that having her boyfriend, Shelton, in San Jose to support her has made a major difference.
“Ben’s here, so I’ve been hanging out with him in my free time, which has been really nice, I think, for both of us,” Rodman said. “Whenever we’re together, we get to not think about tennis and soccer, which I think people think we do a lot. But no, we try to use that time as just like relaxation, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
When asked about how this year has changed her, she replied, “I think it’s helped me prioritize myself. I think for the important mental, physical aspects of everything, especially in the most intensified times, if that was the beginning of my back injury or I don’t even know. It was tough. And Ben’s helped me a lot with putting myself first because it’s really hard to do.”
“And I think I go through phases where I’m really sad for myself and then phases where I’m like, “No, no, no.” Again, it can always be worse. Like, be grateful and learn how to live with it and progress.”
Shelton and Rodman started dating in early 2025 and later made their relationship public through social media. Even with their demanding schedules, they often give fans glimpses of their lighthearted moments together. Rodman continues to juggle her role with the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, while Shelton spends much of the year traveling for ATP Tour events.
