Rodman signs new deal with Washington, new MLS transfer windows and roster rules, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! I hope you are all sufficiently prepared for The Snowstorm this weekend. I unfortunately still need to pick up a few things from the grocery store and make some attempts to winterize my house before it hits, so I fear I am in for a long day.
Trinity Rodman is BACK (The District Press)
Yesterday’s Spirit mystery press conference was finally revealed to be the announcement of Trinity Rodman’s new contract with the team. She’s signed a three year deal that will reportedly net her over $2 million per year.
‘They really want me’ – Why Tai Baribo left the Philadelphia Union to become D.C. United’s main man (Goal.com)
An in-depth look at the role Tai Baribo expects to be playing at his new club. It seems his desire to leave Philadelphia was motivated both by wanting a raise and wanting to be the focal point of a team.
Another D.C. United hopeful is no longer training with the team, Steven Goff reports:
MLS transfer windows: Key dates for the 2026 season (MLS)
MLS has extended the secondary transfer window into September, as well as making some changes to roster rules.
January Friendlies: Spirit Players in the USWNT Camp (The District Press)
From yesterday afternoon, PJ has the details on all the Spirit players participating in this month’s USWNT camp, including Trinity Rodman. How did he know?
USA vs. Paraguay, 2026 USWNT Friendly: Scouting Paraguay (SSFC)
The first match of that camp takes place tomorrow evening against Paraguay, who I was surprised to learn the US has only played twice before.
New York Red Bulls closing in on deal for U.S. goalkeeper Ethan Horvath: Sources (The Athletic $)
On the men’s side, Ethan Horvath may be heading to MLS.
Finally, for some Friday fun, please enjoy this video of Gabby Carle explaining hockey to Paige Metayer at last weekend’s PWHL game:
I’m sorry to hear the snowstorm shortened your citywide victory lap and sparkler parade, Annie.
Really happy Trin is secured. This is gonna be an exciting season.
Man, I do love how Canadian Carle sounds when explaining the Northern staple and fact of life that is ice hockey.
Metayer to her credit is fully ready to learn.
Thumbs up.
Gabby is Québecoise to her core
I appreciate the deep dive with Baribo. Interesting that he expressed such an interest in being the center striker, and then the club also went out and spent even more money on a player that’s also a central striker. Sure, Munteanu can play wide, but he seems to be most effective in the middle. I think that we’re likely to see a two striker system, though.
We are also betting a lot on Keisuke Kurokawa being a good fit in MLS, and we’re still waiting on midfield reinforcements, especially a playmaker.
One thing that doesn’t get talked about too much is that we could see some growth from youngsters like Jackson Hopkins and Jacob Murrell, maybe even Gavin Turner. Heck, potentially Joao Peglow and Gabriel Pirani could level up a bit (I think this might be true of Pirani in a small way, but Peglow is probably who he is at this point).
Anyway, I’m just not feeling totally pessimistic just yet.
I’d definitely like a quality connector, possibly with Hopkins as understudy.
Players like Peglow and Kijima are going to do better with someone skillful to play off of in build up- last season a lot players had to shoulder the burden of being special on their own, and it clearly wasn’t in the cards except for a few Peglow light shows or when teams forgot Pirani existed.
I think, on paper, the team is better than it was going into last season. I still think waiving Schnegg was a bit of a mistake, but otherwise most of the moves that have been made have seemed good. We still need a 3rd goalie, and at least some more depth at the outside backs (unless we’re playing with 3 CBs and Herrera/Kurokawa are going to be used more as wingers, in which case we probably need another CB). Will be interested to see what they do with the remaining senior spots after that. Matt Doyle floated that DC (among a few other teams around the league) should try to get Cremaschi from Miami, which I guess could be a shout.
Miami could let him go and sign another international sensation in this salary capped league.
Schnegg was a mistake, but there may be more involved.
Schnegg wasn’t perfect, but he and Herrera both were essentially asked to be both offensive and defensive players at the same time all last year. They were going to get burned doing that, and they were. Most of the MLS pundits agree that Schnegg was one of, if not the best, players on the team last year, and that he’ll succeed when put in a better situation, and Charlotte is certainly that. I hope Kurokawa ends up being great for us, but I just feel like moving on from Schnegg that quickly when Kurokawa is entirely unproven in the league could come back to bite us
You echo my reservations.
Going after Cremaschi would be a pretty good move, I think. He also suggested that DC could be a good landing place for Jalen Neal (who he thinks Montreal should maybe move on from after getting Tomas Aviles on loan). Neal is okay, but I worry that he’s kind of stagnated in his development. He has a lot better pedigree than Garrison Tubbs, but I’m not actually certain how much better than Tubbs he is. Anyway, it would make some sense if those “Bartlett wants to move” rumors ever come to anything.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Bartlett and Markovic end up being a pairing sooner rather than later.
That said, that says more about my impression of Rowles. It’s like the soccer gods took all the qualities of what should be a good defender, and then took the air out of each one of them just enough for him to be bad.
How is everyone going to pass the time on Sunday as we hunker down? Personally, I am excited to make a latte and watch Arsenal vs Man U (as long as the power stays on).
Hearts vs Celtic. No question. 10 AM Sunday CBS Sports (Paramount+ too, I would guess).
It will also be Robert Burns night. I will hunker down with my Basset Hound and make proper haggis neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes). Let the bagpipes wail as the snow falls.
If you are not familiar with Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet, you’ll have time on your hands. Google and enjoy.
For auld lang syne…………..
Things on CBS Sports tend to not be on Paramount+ much to my chagrin for many George Mason basketball games and Air Force/Navy/Army football games.
I’m stoked to catch up on innumerable champions league and EPL highlights, watch all the games Sunday, and, of course, watch a rampant Trin annihilate some defenders in these two friendlies coming up
Being trapped inside with six year old and a three year old. If I see you all on Monday, it will be a minor miracle.
By Saturday evening, I’ll be in Costa Rica.
Excited to see how Claudia Martinez does against the USWNT.
It’s funny because the Goal.com piece about Baribo mentions Benteke having nearly 100 goals for DCU. He had nearly 100 appearances and scored 47 times for us.
I was wondering if he was just close to 100 goals for his career.
It’s nice to hear from Baribo in the Goal piece that he both wants to be here and actively chose DC over other teams. For a team that has been as mediocre as we have over the past…years… its good to hear that our big name players actually want to play for the team. Sounds like the team made him a promise that they would try to get better, he’s put his trust in them, and they’ve largely held up their end of the bargain so far (though there are still more moves they need to make)
Luis Barraza has signed with Miami, so he will not be coming back to be our #2
I think he’s going to be their 3rd stringer? Probably the best third-string GK in the league now 🙄 (eye roll mostly at the stupid quality of their team front to back since winning the cup)
Probably a large contract in our MLS salary capped league.
Huh. They also permanently acquired Rocco Rios Novo. That’s a heck of a goalkeeping corps, along with Dayne St. Clair.
Miami has some depth at goalie, but we have 2 goalies, so take that Miami! 🙂 I hope Sean is healthy the whole season.
Rumour of Alex Bono returning to DCU.
You know, I don’t hate it. I was thinking David Bingham would have been our best option, but I’ll gladly take Bono back over him as the #2
I like it. He’s still got some old teammates here and was without question a better keeper than anyone we put in the net last season. Great backup for Johnson (unless Farr says otherwise??).
That hockey video was absolutely adorable. The Spirit get it. The professional athlete girl next door kind of vibe. (I hope no one finds this offensive, not at all my intention)