Olympic gold medallist Trinity Rodman expressed her frustration with Wimbledon commentators who mistakenly referred to her father, NBA great Dennis Rodman, and incorrectly stated her name during a match held at The All England Club, where she was supporting her boyfriend, Ben Shelton. Shelton has advanced to the quarter-finals, facing world No.1, Jannik Sinner, on Wednesday evening.
During Shelton’s fourth-round match against Lorenzo Sonego, the ESPN broadcast drew attention to Rodman, noting her lineage. However, Trinity, who has publicly discussed her strained relationship with her father, took issue with the reference. She shared on social media: “When it’s Ben’s matches, he has his family there, which includes his dad… my dad isn’t in my life, so there’s no need to mention him. It’s his moment and his loved ones’. Thank you.” Additionally, she corrected the commentators for getting her name wrong, asserting, “My name is TRINITY, not Tiffany.”
In a December podcast episode of Call Her Daddy, Rodman opened up about her complicated relationship with Dennis, who gained notoriety as a member of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. She described her mother as adept at navigating difficult situations in their family life, mentioning that her father often led a hedonistic lifestyle, which affected their familial bond.
Rodman revealed that attempts to live with her father were challenging, as parties and a chaotic lifestyle overtook family life. She remarked that even now, she feels her father struggles to connect emotionally, stating, “I don’t think he’s ever loved anyone after my mum.” Her reflections suggest that Dennis was overwhelmed by personal issues, which prevented him from understanding the family’s desire for a genuine relationship, leading to financial disconnection and hardship.
Trinity’s candid remarks highlight the difficulty of having a parent in the spotlight while navigating her identity. As she continues to support Shelton through his Wimbledon journey, she hopes to focus on their achievements rather than her father’s legacy. Shelton will take on Sinner at 11:10pm AEST on Wednesday night.