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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman and club owner Michele Kang have been named to the inaugural 2026 TIME100 Sports list, which recognizes 100 of the most influential figures shaping the global sports landscape, the club announced Tuesday.
They are among several names on the list with ties to the Washington region. Figure skater Ilia Malinin, a Fairfax native who grew up in Vienna, Virginia, and trains in Northern Virginia, was placed in the Icons category after winning team gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, a three-time graduate of George Washington University in the District, appeared in the Leaders category.
Rodman has become one of the most recognizable players in women's soccer since beginning her professional career with the Spirit in 2021. The forward was named NWSL Rookie of the Year and delivered the winning assist in the 2021 NWSL Championship, lifting Washington to its first title. She is a two-time Ballon d'Or Féminin finalist and a 2024 NWSL MVP finalist, holds the Spirit's all-time assists record, and became the youngest player to reach 100 NWSL appearances earlier this season.
Rodman re-signed with the Spirit as a free agent earlier this year, agreeing to one of the most financially significant contracts in NWSL history. A mainstay of the U.S. Women's National Team, she competed at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and helped the U.S. win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was previously named to the TIME100 Next list in 2022.
Kang became the Spirit's majority owner ahead of the 2022 season after several years as a minority investor. The club has reached back-to-back NWSL Championships over the past two seasons and become the fourth women's club in the world to average more than 15,000 fans per home match across a full season. Under Kang, the Spirit has drawn top global talent and investors, including Earvin "Magic" Johnson. She was named to the TIME100 Philanthropy list in 2025.
The TIME100 Sports list appears in TIME's June 22 issue, on newsstands July 12.
The Spirit return from the NWSL-wide June break to host the Houston Dash at Audi Field at 8 p.m. Friday, July 3.
