In the capital of the U.S., Washington, D.C., which is known for strategic political negotiations, a new top executive has taken the reins at the Washington Spirit soccer club. Haley Carter is stepping into her role amid ongoing discussions about Winger Trinity Rodman’s contract.

The Washington Spirit made headlines recently with the appointment of Haley Carter as the new president of soccer operations, aiming to navigate the complexities surrounding Rodman’s contract. Her hiring came just before a grievance was filed by the NWSL Players Association regarding Rodman’s free agency.

Previously, an agreement would have made Rodman the highest-paid player in women’s pro soccer, but it was blocked by NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. At her introductory press conference, Carter mentioned ongoing dialogues about Rodman’s status, emphasizing the need for daily discussions.

Carter’s new role signifies a bold step for the Spirit as she returns to the soccer league after her tenure with the Orlando Pride, where she helped assemble a championship-winning team.

“We’re going to need innovative strategies to keep our players, not just compete for international talents, but also retain our own,” Carter stated. “It’s about uniting as a league to maintain our top talents while we continue to evolve.”

Recently, a grievance from the NWSLPA highlighted that a previously agreed contract was vetoed by the league, pending their response within two weeks. Carter aims to adapt the league to retain top talent in a globally competitive environment.

Carter remains “cautiously optimistic” about the commitment from both the club and the league to find a satisfactory resolution for Rodman’s future at the Spirit.