Fun fact: During her first cap for the US Women’s National Team, Tobin Heath didn’t waste a second making an impact. Her very first touch on the ball saw her nutmeg not one, but two Canadian defenders. Many might call it beginner’s luck, but the reality was far more than that—it was a glimpse of the sheer dominance that was to come—a career defined by breathtaking creativity and pure joy on the ball. So, it’s no surprise that her charm has mesmerized today’s USWNT generation, with players like Trinity Rodman replicating it in their own way.
Two World Cups. Stints at top-tier clubs, including Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal. Countless individual and team honors. Press is more than just an inspiration for the next generation of women’s soccer. And seeing the passion that her nation’s rising stars have for her, one can only wonder how her influence extends beyond the United States.
Recently, Yahoo Sports in collaboration with the NWSL shared a small glimpse of an interview with star players Croix Bethune, Jaedyn Shaw, and Trinity Rodman. All three were asked to name a female athlete they looked up to as kids. Interestingly, all three had the same answer to give: Tobin Heath. In fact, the trio of USWNT starlets had some heartwarming words to share as a tribute.
“She’s cheeky. She’s got soccer IQ and talent,” described Bethune first, heaping praise on Heath’s style of play. Coincidentally, this was also one of the attributes that not just Jaedyn Shaw but even Trinity Rodman underscored. “She’s just super creative and was always herself on the field. I guess that inspired me to go and be comfortable in being myself, taking players on, being confident,” said Shaw.
The daughter of Dennis Rodman actually admires Heath’s playing style so much that she infuses her own style to stand out from the crowd. “I think she brought a lot of funk and just swag to soccer, which I thought was really cool,” said Trinity. “I would like to say I also bring that and I’ve watched so much film on her to kind of see that personality. So I’m glad that I can also kind of replicate that in my own way.”
Clearly, these three American superstars borderline worship Heath for what she used to do on the pitch
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