Trinity Rodman’s ‘I (heart) my boyfriend’ shirt steals the spotlight at the US Open

The soccer star showed support for tennis standout Ben Shelton as the couple continues to navigate life as elite athletes.

Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman are proving that a relationship between two elite athletes can survive — and even thrive — under the pressure of demanding professional schedules.

The tennis star and U.S. soccer standout were together again at the US Open on Wednesday, Sept. 2, when Rodman watched Shelton defeat Hubert Hurkacz to reach the tournament’s third round. Her appearance was hard to miss; she wore a black cropped shirt emblazoned with “I ❤️ MY BOYFRIEND” as she cheered from the stands in New York.

The moment captured the public side of a relationship that has increasingly been defined by showing up for one another.

As USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson reported, the couple have learned to navigate a long-distance relationship while competing at the highest levels of their respective sports. Rodman said their understanding of each other’s schedules has been central to making the relationship work, particularly because there are stretches when they barely see each other.

Their connection began online. Rodman recalled on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast that she initially messaged Shelton on Instagram after seeing him compete. The interaction eventually moved offline, and the pair publicly confirmed their relationship in March 2025.

Since then, their support has repeatedly crossed sporting boundaries.

Rodman traveled to Montreal to surprise Shelton during his run at the 2026 Canadian Open, where he successfully defended his title. She also attended his Stuttgart Open victory in June, prompting Shelton to call her his “good luck charm” during his post-match remarks.

Shelton has returned the favor on the soccer side. He attended a Washington Spirit match in July in which Rodman scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, before the pair celebrated together.

That balance appears to be important to both athletes. Rodman has emphasized that they support each other without losing their individual identities, a particularly relevant dynamic for two young stars with international careers.

Us Weekly also highlighted that dynamic at the US Open, where Rodman’s playful shirt turned a routine appearance in Shelton’s player box into one of the tournament’s most talked-about celebrity moments.

For Shelton, currently among the world’s top-ranked men’s players, and Rodman, an Olympic gold medalist and NWSL champion, the relationship has become less about simply attending each other’s events and more about understanding what it takes to compete at the elite level.