Trinity Rodman and Spirit majority owner Michele Kang have been named to TIME’s inaugural 2026 TIME100 Sports list, with Rodman celebrated for her rise since joining Washington in 2021 and Kang recognized for transforming the Washington Spirit’s business and s
On a day marked by a global sports spotlight, two names tied to Washington, D.C., landed in the same place—TIME100 Sports.
TIME named Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman and club owner Michele Kang to the inaugural 2026 TIME100 Sports list. honoring 100 of the most influential figures shaping the global sports landscape. For Rodman. it’s a recognition built on years of on-field impact since she began her professional career with the Spirit in 2021. For Kang. it reflects a turnaround that has rewritten what the organization can become—both as a team and as a business.
Rodman’s ascent is threaded through milestones that fans and teammates can still point to. She was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year after beginning with the Spirit in 2021. That same season, she helped Washington to its first-ever title, delivering the winning assist in the 2021 NWSL Championship. Every season since has only raised her profile further—she’s a two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin finalist and a 2024 NWSL MVP finalist.
Her place in the club’s history is already etched in record books. Rodman holds the Washington Spirit’s all-time assists record and became the youngest player to reach 100 NWSL appearances earlier this season.
Her next move this year carried the kind of momentum the league hasn’t seen often: she re-signed with the Spirit as a free agent and inked one of the most financially significant contracts in NWSL history. Her influence doesn’t stop at club level. On the global stage, she remains a mainstay of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). Rodman competed with the team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. then led the squad to gold with a standout performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
She had already been recognized as a rising force before TIME100 Sports existed. Rodman was previously named to the TIME100 Next list in 2022 as a rising star shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.
Kang’s recognition carries a different kind of story—one rooted in control, investment, and results. Kang became the Spirit’s majority owner prior to the 2022 season, after serving as a minority investor for several years. In the four years since she assumed the club’s helm. the Spirit has seen growth on both the business and sporting sides.
Under Kang, the Spirit set new club records on and off the pitch across the past two seasons. The team won back-to-back NWSL Championships, and the organization continued raising expectations with its attendance marks and the atmosphere at Audi Field.
The changes have extended to staffing and resources. Kang’s leadership has meant a dramatic increase in investment in the Spirit, including elevated staffing, resources, and facilities. The club has posted significant revenue growth, brand awareness growth, and attendance growth every season since Kang became majority owner.
There’s a standout metric that captures the scale of that shift: the Spirit became just the fourth women’s club in the world to average over 15. 000 fans per home match across a full season. Since Kang took over. the Spirit has also positioned itself as a destination for both top global soccer talent and business talent. including investor Earvin “Magic” Johnson. as it continues toward its goal of preeminence.
This TIME recognition is also not her first appearance in the magazine’s orbit. Kang was previously named to the TIME100 Philanthropy list in 2025.
TIME100 Sports will appear in the June 22, 2026, issue of TIME, available on newsstands on Friday, July 12. The complete list can be explored at ti.me/100sports.
The timing lands right before another Washington moment at Audi Field. The Spirit is scheduled to return from the NWSL-wide June break to host the Houston Dash on Friday, July 3. The game kicks off the holiday weekend at 8 p.m. EDT, with tickets available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
The Spirit. founded on November 21. 2012. plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). described as the fastest growing sports league in the U.S. More information about the club is available at WashingtonSpirit.com. and the team can be followed on Twitter. Instagram. and Facebook.
Trinity Rodman Michele Kang TIME100 Sports Washington Spirit NWSL Audi Field USWNT 2026 TIME100