Trinity Rodman rushes from NWSL match to U.S. Open final to support Ben Shelton
Soccer forward Trinity Rodman traveled from Washington, D.C., to New York within hours of a league match to watch boyfriend Ben Shelton compete in the U.S. Open men’s final, where he became the first Black American man in the final since 1972.
Soccer forward Trinity Rodman left Washington, D.C., shortly after completing a full 90-minute match for the Washington Spirit to attend the U.S. Open men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York. The 24-year-old arrived in time to see boyfriend Ben Shelton face Alexander Zverev, a match that ended in a 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 loss for Shelton.
"It means everything," Shelton said after the match. "I knew she was coming — I knew it was going to be pretty close to impossible to get here. Even making the effort and trying is insane."
Shelton’s appearance marked the first time a Black American man reached a U.S. Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. Rodman, who has become a regular presence in the stadium during Shelton’s tournament run, had previously traveled from a NWSL semifinal in Portland to watch his dramatic five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
The couple, who made their relationship public last year, have frequently supported each other’s schedules, with Shelton also attending NWSL matches in Washington and traveling from the ATP Finals in Italy to see the Spirit’s semifinal win.
Both athletes face demanding seasons ahead: the Spirit are chasing the NWSL Shield with six games remaining, while Rodman prepares for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and Shelton looks toward the Wimbledon tournament.