Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman voiced her frustration with match officiating through social media following her team’s dramatic 2-1 victory over San Diego Wave FC.
The soccer star, dating tennis player Ben Shelton, took to Instagram to express her concerns about referee decisions during the high-stakes encounter. Her comments have drawn attention to ongoing discussions about officiating standards in professional women’s soccer.
What Did Trinity Rodman Say About the Match Officiating?
Washington Spirit delivered another thrilling performance at Audi Field on October 5, defeating San Diego Wave FC in a match that went deep into stoppage time. Rosemonde Kouassi emerged as the hero for the Spirit, scoring both goals in what became her first career NWSL brace.
The match opened with Kouassi finding the net in the ninth minute through a precise header, assisted by Deborah Abiodun, in what marked her first NWSL career assist. The Spirit maintained their lead for most of the contest, with Rodman contributing seven shots throughout the match while facing constant physical challenges from San Diego defenders.
Drama unfolded in the closing moments when Delphine Cascarino equalized for San Diego in the fifth minute of stoppage time, converting a pass from Kyra Carusa to make it 1-1. However, just three minutes later in the eighth minute of added time, Kouassi struck again with a spectacular curling shot from 30 yards out that sailed over goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to secure the victory.
Following the match, Rodman posted on her Instagram story expressing her frustration with the referee’s performance. In her post, she wrote:Â “‘All ball’ the ref says to me for 90 minutes straight on every foul yesterday.” She accompanied this with a photo from the match showing what appeared to be a questionable tackle, adding four specific points about the incident:
“1. Both quads wrapped around left leg 2. Calls all ball and somehow it’s a goal kick… out on me 3. Wasn’t even checked on VAR 4. This is in no way coming for individual players. This is one of many examples…. Refs need to be better at managing these games. No words.”
The controversy highlighted ongoing concerns about referee decisions in the NWSL. Throughout the contest, Rodman and her teammates faced numerous physical challenges that fans and observers felt were not properly addressed by match officials. The officiating pattern showed San Diego players receiving favorable treatment on foul calls, while Washington Spirit players struggled to get protection from aggressive challenges.
The victory extended the Washington Spirit’s impressive streak and solidified their position in second place in the NWSL standings with 43 points.
Ben Shelton’s Heartbreaking Result at Shanghai Masters
On the other hand, Rodman’s boyfriend, Shelton, endured a disappointing return to the ATP Tour at the Shanghai Masters, falling 6-2, 6-4 to veteran Belgian David Goffin in the second round. Shelton struggled with timing when he was competing for the first time since retiring mid-match at the US Open due to a left shoulder injury. He committed 22 unforced errors compared to Goffin’s 11.
MORE: Ben Shelton’s Comeback Ends in a Heartbreak Against the Opponent Who Crushed Carlos Alcaraz
The American sixth seed was unable to impose his power game, leaving his bid for an ATP Finals berth in Turin in jeopardy after the straight-sets defeat.
