Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman and club owner Michele Kang were named to the inaugural 2026 TIME100 Sports list on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, for their significant global influence on the sports landscape.
The honors place the prominent soccer figures alongside other notable athletes with ties to the Washington D. C.
region, including Olympic gold-medal figure skater Ilia Malinin and bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor.
Rodman secured her spot on the list after making history earlier this year by re-signing with the Spirit as a free agent, which established her as the highest-paid women's soccer player in the world with a $1 million annual salary.
The long-term agreement guarantees Rodman a three-year extension with the club, adding to her historic tenure that began when she was drafted by the Washington Spirit in 2021.
"Since beginning her professional career with the Spirit in 2021, Rodman has become one of the greatest, most recognizable players in global women’s soccer," the team said in a statement.
Rodman currently holds the franchise record for all-time assists, became the youngest player to reach 100 NWSL appearances earlier this season, and secured an Olympic gold medal with the U.
S. Women's National Team in 2024.
Spirit owner Michele Kang earned her place on the global list after guiding the franchise through unprecedented commercial expansion since acquiring majority ownership ahead of the 2022 season.
Under her administration, the Spirit achieved back-to-back NWSL Championship appearances in 2024 and 2025 while becoming the fourth women's soccer club globally to average over 15,000 spectators per home match across an entire season.
The franchise has also attracted high-profile business talent and investors, including basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, while expanding its organizational resources, revenue growth, and baseline athletic infrastructure.
The publication announced that the physical TIME100 Sports list will hit newsstands on Friday, July 12, 2026, following its initial publication in the June 22 issue of TIME magazine.
The Washington Spirit recently announced that Audi Field will host the 2026 NWSL Finals, and the team will next play the Houston Dash at the venue on Friday, July 3, 2026.
