Rodman scores winning goal in return from injury in Spirit's 2-1 win over the Thorns
Rodman was on the bench to begin the game before entering to the roar of the crowd at Audi Field in the 76th minute. Rodman had not played since April 12 because of a nagging back issue.
Rodman, who won a gold medal with the United States at the Olympics last summer, buried her head in her hands and sobbed after the goal, her first for the Spirit since last Sept. 15.
'That was the hardest thing I've had to go through, with the injury and everything. So being back, especially at the home stadium with the crowd behind me, scoring a goal like that, you saw I buried it, was not going to miss it,' she said afterward. 'I'm just really happy to be back. I missed the team, I missed doing what I love, so just joy.'
The Spirit (8-4-2) moved into second place in the standings with the victory as the team returned from the league's six-week summer break. The Orlando Pride hosted the Utah Royals in Sunday's late match.
The Thorns (6-4-4) had won their last two matches before the break.
Gift Monday put the Spirit in front in the 17th minute, taking a well-placed cross from Rosemonde Kouassi and easily putting it past Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. Monday has five goals this season.
Although the Spirit dominated early on, Portland tied it up in first-half stoppage time on Olivia Moultrie's bolt from the top of the box.
Adrián González, who was the Spirit's interim head coach last year before Jonatan Girladez took over last summer, became the team's permanent head coach last month during the NWSL break when Giraldez was named coach of Lyon in France's top league.
Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury surpassed former Spirit player Tori Huster for most minutes played with the club in the second half.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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