Kickin' It with Rocky Rodríguez + Appreciation Thread
Thank you to Rocky, who has been an amazing player for the Portland Thorns and also an incredible person throughout her time in the Rose City.
On January 8, 2020 former NWSL Rookie of the Year Rocky Rodríguez was traded from Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY Gotham FC) to the Portland Thorns.
The Costa Rica international has been one of the most underappreciated players in the league, but also worldwide. Rodríguez has played in both World Cups that Costa Rica qualified for. She has earned 83 caps, tallying 45 goals in her international career.
Rocky’s soccer IQ, physicality, and gifts make her truly, one of a kind. There is no one that can do what she can out on the pitch.
Portland Thorns FC announced on Tuesday that they have acquired $275,000 in allocation money from Angel City FC in exchange for midfielder Rocky Rodríguez.
She is going to be missed by everyone. Rocky is absolutely loved in the Rose City. Her teammates, coaches, staff, and fans will all miss her.
Angel City supporters will now get to experience the soccer superpowers of Rocky, but also her one-of-a-kind elite character of a person.
Please see below for one last chat the STF team had with Rocky:
Kickin’ It with Rocky Rodríguez
Stumptown Footy: What do you like to do for fun on an off day?
Rocky Rodríguez: Let’s see. Play my piano if I’m down for it. Watch a show or a movie. Facetime family and friends. I don’t know, what else? I feel like I need to find more fun things to do.
Stumptown Footy: Have you found your favorite restaurant and coffee shop yet?
Rocky Rodríguez: Favorite restaurant? There’s so many, honestly. I think, was it Norah? It’s a vegan restaurant. Soop right here around the corner. They’re all really good.
Stumptown Footy: What’s your favorite berry?
Rocky Rodríguez: Berry? Probably blueberries. Yeah.
Stumptown Footy: Are there any Costa Rican restaurants you really like?
Rocky Rodríguez: So far, I’ve only known two. Casa del Pollo I think is one. The other one, I don’t remember the name, but it’s hispanic, central American, I think, and Costa Rican.
Stumptown Footy: Do you have any pets?
Rocky Rodríguez: Not here. I have one in Costa Rica. She’s a mutt - a little dog. I would have a pet here if I didn’t travel so much.
Stumptown Footy: What’s her name?
Rocky Rodríguez: Nana
Stumptown Footy: Have you played as yourself in FIFA yet?
Rocky Rodríguez: I don’t have FIFA myself, but I have played as myself.
Stumptown Footy: Do you have a favorite movie?
Rocky Rodríguez: Yes, Toy Story. All the Toy Story movies.
Stumptown Footy: If you had to pick one, do you know which you would choose?
Rocky Rodríguez: No, that’s a hard one. I’d probably pick the first one just because it’s the first one I was a kid and stuff. All four of them are really good.
Stumptown Footy: What type of music do you like to listen to? Do you have a favorite artist?
Rocky Rodríguez: I feel like I listen to the same music all the time. I mostly listen to like Spanish music - vallenato, reggaetón, salsa, just pop music, Shakira. All the reggaetón artists like Rauw Alejandro. And of course, in English is popular, like pop music, pop hits, oldies, like seventies and eighties, all those.
Stumptown Footy: If you could choose an entrance song, what would you pick?
Rocky Rodríguez: I would have to run through my Spotify to be honest. I’d probably pick like a reggaetón one.
Stumptown Footy: Are you obsessed with any TV Show right now?
Rocky Rodríguez: I can’t say I’m obsessed with any right now. I just started watching Chimp Dynasty.
Stumptown Footy: If you could go on a dream vacation or a place you haven’t been to yet, where would you want to go?
Rocky Rodríguez: Hmm, I don’t know Africa yet. I’ve never been in Africa, the continent. So, I’d probably want to go somewhere in the wild where I can see the animals in their natural habitats.
Stumptown Footy: Do you have any items on your bucket list you can share with us?
Rocky Rodríguez: Probably watch Messi play, like play live.
Stumptown Footy: If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
Rocky Rodríguez: Teleportation
Stumptown Footy: Do you have a favorite Pokémon?
Rocky Rodríguez: Not really. I didn’t grow up watching it
Stumptown Footy: Do you have a best friend(s) on the team?
Rocky Rodríguez: I would say a couple like Kling, Soph, Crystal. If I had to pick one, it’d probably be Kling.
Stumptown Footy: If you could take one thing from your hometown and bring it to Portland, what would it be?
Rocky Rodríguez: That’s a tough one. Probably my family and friends.
Appreciation Thread
Once a Thorn, Always a Thorn!
Thank you for your football magic and being an incredible person. The city of Portland and club were lucky to have you.
Share your heartfelt messages with Rocky below in the comments.
Great person, great player, great Thorn. Probably doesn't get enough credit for her technical ability in small spaces because of how strong she was physically, but she'd have stretches where she'd absolutely take over games in the midfield. The Reign game near the end of last season stands out in particular, especially for the ass-kicking she gave Fishlock including the below-mentioned shoulder check.
(Also worth mentioning that though Dunn's game-winner against SD (deservedly) gets all the headlines, Rocky's was both a better goal and came at a really important part of the game where the Thorns were struggling after Kornieck's opener)
Rocky, well first your the smile, it could melt last weeks ice. You just seemed to be the most honest and genuinely nice person. As a player you are one of the toughest that have played here. Amber Brooks, McCall Zerboni and Horan all come to mind, but with Natu and Rocky, the Thorns had two of the toughest players around. Echo te menos mucho Rocky!