On Wednesday night, I got to cross something off my sports bucket list.
I watched Trinity Rodman play in person.
After driving more than 2,300 miles from Massachusetts to Sandy, Utah, I found my seat at America First Field. Around me were young girls wearing Trinity Rodman USWNT jerseys. Some had even braided their hair in her signature pink rose-colored style. They stood out against a sea of red and blue Utah Royals jerseys, proudly cheering for their home team while still hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the biggest stars in the game playing for the visiting Washington Spirit.
Before the match even kicked off, I found myself watching the crowd as much as the players. Fathers lifted daughters onto their shoulders for photos. Young girls held handmade signs, hoping Trinity might notice them during warmups.
They had someone to believe in.
The game paused after 23 minutes because of a summer thunderstorm. As we waited, a rainbow stretched across the Wasatch Mountains beyond the stadium. When play resumed, Trinity Rodman scored.
The forward found space, took the pass in stride and buried the ball into the left corner of the net. Even in an away stadium, the reaction was immediate. Cheers erupted from every corner of America First Field. The Spirit won the game 1-0.
Rodman wasn't the only World Cup star on the field. The Spirit also have Leicy Santos from Columbia. Across the field was Mina Tanaka, leading Utah's attack before likely doing the same for Japan next summer. It reminded me that every NWSL match is more than a club game this season. It's also a preview of what's to come.
As I walked back to my car after the game, I realized I wasn't thinking about the result anymore.
I kept thinking about next summer.
For many fans, it'll be their introduction to players like Rodman, Santos, Tanaka and countless others. But for those of us who have spent Wednesday nights at NWSL matches, it won't feel like an introduction. It'll feel like the rest of the world is finally catching on.
As the countdown to Brazil continues, I hope more people decide to spend a Wednesday night at an NWSL match. I watched Trinity Rodman score the winning goal. The little girls around me watched something even bigger.
They watched someone who showed them exactly what's possible.
