Ben Shelton is preparing for one of the biggest matches of his 2026 US Open campaign, with the American No. 8 seed set to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round on Sunday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, and Shelton will once again have plenty of support from the stands. Among those expected to be cheering for him is his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, one of the biggest stars in American soccer.
Rodman has become a familiar face in Shelton’s player box since the two began dating, but there is much more to her story than her relationship with the American tennis star. At 24, Rodman has already won an Olympic gold medal, established herself as one of the leading players in the NWSL and built a major profile of her own.
Her journey, however, has also involved a complicated relationship with her famous father, NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, as she has worked to establish an identity separate from one of the most recognizable names in American sports.
Who Is Trinity Rodman?
Born on May 20, 2002, Trinity Rodman grew up in Southern California alongside her older brother, DJ Rodman. Her father, Dennis, became an NBA icon during a decorated career that included five NBA championships, while her mother, Michelle Moyer, played a central role in raising the two children.
Trinity eventually chose soccer as her sport and quickly emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the United States.
She was selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft and has since established herself as a key figure for both club and country.
Her biggest international breakthrough came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she played a major role in the United States’ run to the gold medal.
Trinity Rodman’s Olympic Gold Medal
Rodman was one of the standout players for the U.S. women’s national team during the Paris Olympics.
Playing alongside Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, she formed part of the attacking trio that became known as the “Triple Espresso.” The trio’s pace and direct attacking style caused problems throughout the tournament.
Rodman scored the decisive goal in extra time against Japan in the quarterfinals, helping the Americans advance to the semifinals.
The United States eventually defeated Brazil 1-0 in the gold-medal match, giving Rodman the biggest international trophy of her young career.
The Olympic triumph also helped establish her as one of the faces of the next generation of American soccer.
Trinity’s Broken Relationship With Her Father, Dennis Rodman
Despite carrying one of the most famous surnames in American sports, Rodman’s relationship with her father has been anything but straightforward.
Trinity and her brother were primarily raised by their mother, Michelle, and Rodman has been open about the absence of her father during her childhood.
Speaking about their relationship, she has made it clear that she does not consider Dennis Rodman to have played the traditional role of a father in her life.
“He’s not a dad. Maybe by blood, but nothing else,” she said during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast.
Rodman has also spoken about wanting to separate her achievements from her father’s enormous sporting legacy.
Rather than viewing the surname as something that belongs to her father, she has embraced it as her own.
“I love to have my last name and when I say Rodman, it’s not my dad’s name, it’s my name,” she said.
That distinction has become an important part of Rodman’s public identity. She has built a career that stands independently from her father’s basketball achievements.
How Did Trinity Rodman and Ben Shelton Meet?
Rodman’s relationship with Shelton has become one of the most talked-about cross-sport romances in American sports.
The two went public with their relationship in March 2025, although their connection began somewhat casually.
Rodman revealed that she was actually the one who made the first move, sliding into Shelton’s Instagram DMs with the message:
“You’re sick.”
Shelton responded roughly ten minutes later, and the conversation eventually developed into a relationship.
Jean Catuffe/GC Images
Frances Tiafoe has jokingly tried to claim some credit for bringing the pair together, but Rodman has dismissed that version of events, making it clear that Tiafoe was not the matchmaker he has portrayed himself to be.
Since then, the relationship has involved plenty of travel, with both athletes making an effort to support each other despite demanding schedules.
Shelton has attended Washington Spirit matches, while Rodman has traveled to tournaments to watch him compete.
Ben Shelton on Trinity Rodman’s Support
Shelton has previously spoken about how meaningful it is to have a partner who understands the demands of professional sport.
For him, Rodman’s own experience as an elite athlete means she understands the emotional highs and lows that come with competing at the highest level.
“Having a partner, a girlfriend, who understands all the same things, knows when to support, what to say in tough moments… has been really cool,” Shelton said.
That understanding has become particularly valuable during the long tennis season, when players spend much of the year traveling from tournament to tournament. Rodman’s commitment to supporting Shelton was put on full display during the 2026 US Open.
With her own NWSL commitments continuing, getting to New York was far from straightforward.
Shelton revealed that Rodman had played a full match on the other side of the country before immediately boarding a red-eye flight to New York. She reportedly slept for only a few hours before heading to the US Open grounds to watch him compete.
Shelton was visibly appreciative of the effort.
“It honestly means everything to me,” he said.
Trinity Rodman’s Salary, Net Worth and Endorsements
Trinity Rodman has built a significant financial profile through her soccer career and growing list of endorsement partnerships. In January 2026, she signed a landmark three-year contract extension with the Washington Spirit worth $2 million per year, including bonuses. The deal runs through 2028 and made Rodman the highest-paid female soccer player in the world at the time.
Her commercial portfolio includes major brands such as Adidas, Oakley and Red Bull, adding substantially to her income away from the soccer field.
Rodman’s estimated 2026 net worth is between $2.0 million and $2.6 million, according to the figures available in reports around her record-breaking contract. Her new Washington Spirit deal is expected to push that figure higher as she continues through the remainder of the contract.
Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Ben Shelton has also built significant wealth through ATP prize money and endorsement deals with brands including On, Yonex and Rolex. His 2026 net worth has been estimated at around $3 million in some reports.
Taken together, Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman’s combined estimated net worth is between $5 million and $5.6 million.
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