It isn’t uncommon for the children of celebrities to follow in their footsteps, whether it be as actors or as athletes. Soccer star Trinity Rodman‘s last name may ring a bell – the youngest person to ever be drafted in the NWSL is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman. Dennis is best known for his legendary defense and rebounding with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, among other teams.
At 21 years old, Trinity has already established a name for herself separate from her famous dad. She was drafted by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL draft when she was 18, and just two years later, she is one of 14 newcomers on the United States women’s national soccer team for the 2023 World Cup, per Time.
Trinity attributes her passion, drive, and worth ethic to her athletic father and strong-willed mother, Michelle Moyer. To develop her skills, she studied film of her dad’s technique on the court and incorporated some of those same moves in her own sport. “It was timing, it was anticipation. It was body movement. It was positioning. It was everything. He was so intelligent,” the star explained to Time.
Moyer raised Trinity and Trinity’s brother, DJ Rodman, mostly on her own following her 2004 split from Dennis. Trinity credits her mom as her biggest influence both on and off the field. During Trinity’s youth, Moyer provided her with the financial, motivational, and emotional support to begin playing soccer, even when they didn’t have the means to do so. “Having a dad like I do, no one asks about my mom because she’s obviously not an NBA star, but I just want people to know that my mom’s been my support system in everything in life and she’s my best friend and my rock,” she revealed to The Guardian.
Keep reading to learn more about Trinity’s parents!
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Trinity Rodman's Dad, Dennis Rodman
Despite having an incredible and record-breaking NBA career, Dennis is arguably better known for his controversial relationships and eccentric persona. The five-time NBA champion was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1986 and won two championships with the team until his departure in 1993, per ESPN. After a two-year stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Dennis was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1995, where he would play alongside league greats like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Dennis helped lead the Bulls to three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998. He met in Moyer 1999.
Per the Los Angeles Times, the couple married in May 2003. At the time, Dennis told the publication that the two had different residences and had no plans of living together. “We won’t live together. I like it like that. She and the kids come over on weekends,” he shared. Throughout their relationship, Dennis and Moyer had two children: a son named Dennis Jr., aka DJ, in April 2001, and Trinity in May 2002. The marriage didn’t last long, however; Moyer filed for divorce in 2004. Despite attempts at reconciling their relationship off and on for the next eight years, the two ultimately dissolved their marriage in 2012, partially due to Dennis owing nearly $860,000 in child support, as reported by the LA Times.
As for Dennis’s relationship with Trinity, the two have had a strained bond over the years. Nonetheless, Trinity maintains that Dennis will always be her dad, no matter what. When Dennis attended one of Trinity’s games, the soccer star took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the special moment. “My dad doesn’t play a big role in my life at all and most people don’t know that, we don’t see eye to eye on many things. I go months if not years without his presence or communication. Being in spotlights has been hard for us, him and me. We don’t have the best relationship, but at the end of the day he’s human I’m human . . . he’s my dad, and I’m his little girl that will never change,” she wrote.
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Trinity Rodman's Mother, Michelle Moyer
Outside of her marriage to Dennis, Moyer is known for being a singer and starring in a few reality shows, including “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” when Dennis appeared on the show for his struggles with alcoholism.
Moyer is recognized as the driving force behind her children’s success, including Trinity’s. According to Yahoo Sports, Moyer struggled financially as she raised her kids mostly on her own, which sometimes involved moving from apartment to apartment. This didn’t stop her from providing for her children, however, and through it all, she was always eager to help Trinity get sports scholarships, drive her to practice, and support her from the sidelines. Touching on her relationship with her mom, Trinity explained to The Guardian, “I don’t think people know how close we are and, even though she wasn’t in the NBA, she has an extremely competitive and driven mindset, and she’s an extremely strong woman. She’s my role model.”
Moyer, who uses the surname Rodman on her social media profiles, constantly supports her children and showers them with love. On Trinity’s 21st birthday in May 2023, Moyer wrote on Instagram, “I can’t say it enough . . . so proud to call you mine and so blessed God gave me you?? You have superseded everything I ever thought you would become . . . didn’t know it was possible? My amazing human, amazing daughter, sister, and auntie! Continue to just be you . . . this world is a better place with you in it!”
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More Pictures of Trinity Rodman's Parents
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