USWNT star Trinity Rodman announced her relationship with American tennis player Ben Shelton in March 2025 with a single, playful word—“Dibs”—in the caption of an Instagram post that served as their relationship’s hard launch. The post, shared by Shelton on March 17, 2025, featured a carousel of images, culminating in an elevator selfie where Rodman kissed Shelton on the cheek. Rodman’s caption, “Dibs 🤭,” paired with a winking emoji, confirmed months of speculation sparked by flirty TikTok exchanges earlier that month. The one-word declaration, lighthearted yet definitive, sent fans and fellow athletes into a frenzy, cementing the duo as a new sports power couple.
Rodman, 23, a forward for the Washington Spirit and a 2024 Olympic gold medalist, and Shelton, 22, the world No. 10 tennis player, had teased their romance through TikTok videos on March 6 and 7, using the “shooters shoot” lyric from GloRilla and Jorjiana’s “ILBB2.” Shelton’s video hinted at a seven-letter name starting with “T,” while Rodman’s response pointed to a three-letter name, fueling fan speculation. The Instagram post, met with comments like “hard launch” from Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens, confirmed their status, with Rodman’s “Dibs” encapsulating her claim on Shelton in a viral moment.
The couple’s public support has since grown, with Rodman cheering Shelton at the BMW Open in Munich and the French Open, and Shelton celebrating her 2025 ESPYS nomination for her Olympic goal against Japan. Despite Rodman’s ongoing recovery from a back injury, their mutual encouragement—highlighted by her reposting his Wimbledon win with “Typeeeee”—shows a strong bond. The “Dibs” announcement, as noted by Men’s Journal, marked a bold, succinct debut of their romance, resonating across social media and sports circles.
