The United States women’s national team enjoyed a dominant night in Santa Barbara as they swept aside Chile with ease.
With the result decided early, the atmosphere around the pitch became increasingly relaxed as the game wore on.
That freedom created space for personality to shine, both on the field and on the touchline.
It ultimately led to an unexpected moment involving head coach Emma Hayes that quickly went viral.
USWNT run riot as Trinity Rodman makes immediate impact off the bench
The United States ran out 5–0 winners against Chile, with the contest effectively decided well before the final whistle.
Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph, Emily Sams, and Emma Sears all found the net to put the USWNT firmly in control.
Trinity Rodman, the highest-paid women’s footballer in the world, was introduced from the bench in the 64th minute and wasted no time making her presence felt.
Just five minutes after coming on, the Washington Spirit star added a fifth goal to cap a dominant team display.
Rather than heading back toward her teammates, Rodman immediately sprinted toward the touchline.
Waiting for her was Emma Hayes, who quickly found herself at the centre of attention.
Rodman persuaded her head coach to break into the now-famous ‘sexy dexy’ dance, popularised by NFL star Dexter Lawrence.
Footage showed players on the bench bursting into laughter and clapping as Hayes joined in.
Emma Hayes explains why she finally danced with Rodman
After the match, Hayes explained how the moment had been building for some time.
Rodman had previously tried to convince her to dance following the USWNT’s 6–0 friendly win over Paraguay, but was unsuccessful on that occasion.
“She said, ‘You are doing it tonight,’” Hayes said about Rodman’s push for a joint celebration if she scored.
Hayes admitted she never expected to be put on the spot again, believing the chance would never come.
“I thought, you know what? The game’s comfortable. Trin’s not going to score tonight.
“It’s a crowded box, and the minute she chopped inside, if you’d have seen, if you had panned towards me prior to that, my head was in my hands.”
The USWNT boss then described the mix of nerves and amusement as Rodman closed in on her.
“I was dying. I was dying. But listen, these players keep me young. I’m not complaining.
“I’ve learned over the course of my career that you can have many things all at once. I can be demanding, I could have high standards, but I also can smile and have a good time.”
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