Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman was unable to join the team for their match against Angel City on Friday due to a back spasm she suffered during a previous game. Coach Jonatan Giraldez also confirmed that defender Casey Krueger was unable to travel to Los Angeles due to an adductor issue. Both Rodman and Krueger were part of the U.S. team that secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. Giraldez mentioned that Rodman’s back injury is not severe, but there is no set timeline for her return, while Krueger’s injury is considered minor.

Despite the absence of Rodman and Krueger, the Washington Spirit have already secured a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs with five games left in the regular season. Rodman sustained the back injury during the game against Kansas City last Friday when she collided with Current forward Temwa Chawinga in the 75th minute. Initially attempting to walk off the field, Rodman eventually had to be taken to the locker room in a wheelchair before returning to the bench. Unfortunately, the Spirit suffered a 3-0 loss to the Current in that match.

Rodman’s agent, Mike Senkowski, revealed to The Washington Post that the young forward experienced an “intense back spasm.” This is not the first time Rodman has dealt with back spasms, as she has had a history of such issues. On the other hand, Krueger had started the game against Kansas City but had to be substituted out at halftime due to her injury. The exact timing of Krueger’s injury remains unclear.

The Spirit will have to adjust their lineup in the absence of Rodman and Krueger for the upcoming games. Despite these setbacks, the team is in a strong position heading into the playoffs. Fans will be eager to see both Rodman and Krueger return to full fitness and contribute to the Spirit’s playoff campaign.