The U.S. women’s soccer team will return to the gold medal game this weekend, hoping for a first-place finish 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 had not won a major tournament. since the 2019 World Cup — and fans can’t help but notice a certain theme.
The internet has been abuzz with memes at these Olympics pointing out that star forward Trinity Rodman has a similar shade of pink in her hair to that of retired champion Megan Rapinoe during the 2019 World Cup. Rodman confirmed on Thursday, August 8 that she had seen the comparisons.
“Yes, I was sent a few [of the memes],” Rodman told PEOPLE with a laugh during a pregame press conference.
“We have to see Pinoe [Rapinoe]so I talked to her about it,” the 22-year-old continued while speaking with PEOPLE and other reporters in Paris. “I guess we need a color somewhere, and pink was the color — pink, purple, whatever. So yeah, I guess we have to keep moving forward like that.”
Trinity Rodman.
Brad Smith/ISI/Getty
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The USWNT hasn’t won an international tournament since the 2019 World Cup, when the pink, purple-haired Rapinoe helped the team to victory and won the MVP award, aka the Ballon d’Or, for her six goals and three assists. After the win, Rapinoe said about the team in his 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 Trinity Rodman, who has scored three goals in the tournament so far.
These Olympics were a big improvement from the USWNT’s last international match, the 2023 World Cup, where they struggled through the group stage before losing to Sweden on penalties in the Round of 16, ending their tournament early.
They have since brought back several key players sidelined with injuries – such as Mallory Swanson, who was with Rodman and fellow striker Sophia Smith during the press conference – as well as a new manager in Emma Hayes.
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Megan Rapinoe.
Pier Marco Tacca/Getty
They are now on course for gold in a tough match against Brazil. When asked to talk about his opponents – and star Marta Vieira da Silva – Rodman brought the conversation back to their focus on himself.
“All credit to Brazil for getting to where they are but I think I’m just looking forward to this game and it’s about what we can do on Saturday,” she said.
To find out more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com and check out the live coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympic newsletter, to deliver the biggest stories from the Games straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics starting July 26 on NBC and Peacock.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education