Ben Shelton expressed his excitement on social media after his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, secured a nomination for the 2025 ESPYS. The American tennis player took to Instagram to celebrate his partner’s achievement with a star-struck emoji, showing his pride in Rodman’s accomplishment.
The soccer star earned her nomination in the Best Play category for her stunning extra-time goal against Japan during the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals. The 22-year-old forward’s strike in the 106th minute sent the United States Women’s National Team to the semifinals, a journey that eventually culminated in an Olympic gold.
Trinity Rodman’s Olympic Goal That Earned Recognition
Rodman’s ESPYS-nominated play came during one of the most crucial moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the quarterfinal against Japan heading toward a penalty shootout, Rodman received a pass from Crystal Dunn in extra time. She cut inside from the right wing and hit a powerful left-footed shot that found the top corner of the net, securing a 1-0 victory for the United States.
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The goal was Rodman’s third of the tournament and made her the youngest American to score in an Olympic knockout match in 20 years. Speaking about the moment afterward, Rodman called it “the best moment of my career” and admitted she “kind of blacked out” during that.
The ESPYS nomination puts Rodman’s goal alongside other spectacular plays from 2024-2025, including Sabrina Ionescu’s game-winning three-pointer in the WNBA Finals and Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle from the NFL season. The ceremony will take place on July 16 at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis.
Ben Shelton Reaches Career Milestone As Rodman Expresses Her Pride
Just a week before Rodman’s ESPYS nomination, Ben Shelton achieved his own significant milestone in tennis. The 22-year-old American broke into the ATP Top 10 for the first time in his career, climbing from No. 12 to No. 10. This achievement made him the first U.S. male player born after 2000 to reach this elite list.
Ben Shelton’s breakthrough came after reaching his first-ever grass-court semifinal at the Stuttgart Open, where he eventually lost to Alexander Zverev. His rise to the Top 10 also marked a historic moment for American tennis, as he joined Taylor Fritz (No. 4) and Tommy Paul (No. 8) to become the third American man in the top 10 for the first time since 2006.
When Shelton achieved his ranking milestone, Rodman showed her support by sharing the news on social media with the message, “Will never be over this. Proud of you”. Their mutual support demonstrates the strong bond between the two young athletes who confirmed their relationship in March 2025.
