“I think we need to continue this in the future,” Rodman said PEOPLE during a press conference before her Olympic gold medal match
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Trinity Rodman (left) and Megan Rapinoe
The U.S. women’s soccer team will be back in the gold medal game this weekend, hoping to claim the top spot at the Olympics for the first time since 2012. Their five-game winning streak during the Paris Games was a return to form for a team that hasn’t won a major tournament since the 2019 World Cup — and fans are noticing a particular pattern.
The internet was awash with memes during the Olympics pointing out that star striker Trinity Rodman wears a similar shade of pink in her hair as former champion Megan Rapinoe did at the 2019 World Cup. Rodman confirmed on Thursday, August 8, that she had seen the comparisons.
“Yeah, I got sent a few (of the memes),” Rodman laughed and told PEOPLE during a pregame press conference.
“We saw Pinoe (Rapinoe), so I talked to her about it,” the 22-year-old continued while speaking to PEOPLE and other reporters in Paris. “I think we need some color somewhere, and pink was the color – pink, purple, whatever. So yeah, I think we need to continue that in the future.”
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Trinity Rodman
Related: Megan Rapinoe says ‘I’m living my best life’ with Sue Bird in Paris as first-time Olympic spectator (exclusive)
The USWNT has not won an international tournament since the 2019 World Cup, when a pink and purple-haired Rapinoe helped the team to victory and won the MVP award, known as the Golden Ball, for her six goals and three assists. After the victory, Rapinoe said of the team in her victory speech: “We have pink hair and purple hair. We have tattoos and dreadlocks. We have white girls and black girls. And everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls.”
Now they have a pink-haired Trinity Rodman, who has scored three goals in the tournament so far.
These Olympics represent a big improvement over the USWNT’s last international game, the 2023 World Cup, when they struggled in the group stage before losing to Sweden on penalties in the round of 16, ending the tournament early.
They have since brought back some important players who were out due to injury – such as Mallory Swansonwho was with Rodman and her fellow striker Sophia Smith during the press conference – as well as a new manager with Emma Hayes.
Related: Rose Lavelle talks USWNT’s ‘growth’ since 2023 World Cup as they aim for Paris Olympics comeback (exclusive)
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Megan Rapinoe
Now they are on their way to gold in a tough match against Brazil. When asked to talk about their opponents – and star players Marta Vieira da Silva – Rodman turned the conversation back to focusing on herself.
“Kudos to Brazil for getting to where they are now. But I think if we’re just looking forward to this game, it’s all about what we can achieve on Saturday,” she said.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit people.com for the latest coverage before, during and after the Games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympic newsletter, to get the most important stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics on NBC and Peacock starting July 26.
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