FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia -- United States women's national team forward Trinity Rodman said she has worked on becoming less predictable to keep opponents on their toes.
"I feel like I've been a player that loves the sideline. I love being isolated," Rodman told ESPN's Futbol W studio show on Thursday. "This year, specifically, I've worked a lot on being more connected off the ball and finding areas where I can pop into a space that isn't always playing in behind."
Rodman, Lindsey Heaps and Alyssa Thompson spoke exclusively to former USWNT defender and two-time World Cup champion Ali Krieger at the team hotel this week ahead of games against world No. 1 Spain.
Spain and the U.S. will play on Saturday in Washington, D.C., and again on Tuesday, in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Rodman said that she and the team have worked this week on how to handle Spain's pressure.
Spain is the top-ranked team in the world and reigning World Cup champions. The U.S. is the reigning Olympic champion and ranked No. 2 by FIFA.
"I feel like I've been more nervous this camp just because there's been a longer break in between camps, and then having a few months in between, going straight into playing Spain," Rodman said. "I have been more focused on kind of just having completions and playing the simple pass, and retaining the ball.
"I think as we get into the game, and as we demonstrate our identity, then that's when you can start trying things. I think we're all pretty good at recognizing that.
"But on top of that, I feel like I've always, in this environment, been in a place where I can try those things, mess up, and I know my team has my back and they cover for me and vice-versa. I'm really happy that I have that freedom to be able to be myself."
Rodman has 11 goals and eight assists for the Washington Spirit this NWSL season, her sixth. It is the 23-year-old's most productive season to date. She has two goals and three assists in 10 games this year for the United States.
Rodman also gushed over having friend and former club teammate Ashley Sanchez back in training camp for the first time in nearly two years. "I'm so proud of her," Rodman said of Sanchez's NWSL record-tying 20 goals this season.
In the Futbol W interview, Rodman also recounted her whirlwind day on Sept. 13 in which she played at home for the Washington Spirit and made it to New York in time to be there for her boyfriend, tennis star Ben Shelton, in the U.S. Open final.
"Both lost that day, so that wasn't fun," Rodman said, laughing.
Rodman told Krieger that she had no expectation of making it to the tennis match, but that she hustled to a private jet after the NWSL match: "splurged on that because it's just important to me... being there for him in a big moment."