🔗 Share this article

On late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her initial online statement in almost two years. In it, she responded to news that the NWSL had quietly dropped its inclusion policy for transgender and intersex athletes, making the league's position undecided.

The next day, her opinion piece was republished in full by a different publication, giving it broader attention.

“I'm concerned that without clarity about who the league is for, it will sacrifice its character and its growth,” stated Eddy.

Her piece generally argued for a ban on transgender players from the NWSL to preserve “the fairness of female athletics.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It's unclear how Eddy thinks the league's integrity has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed trans athletes or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear identity. It's highly competitive, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the global female football scene.

The league's momentum seems mostly fine—viewership have increased each year, and expansion to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.

Examining the Evidence

Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, that restriction is thought to impact only 20 or so amateur participants out of millions registered athletes. The effect in the US would likely be equally minimal.

Two years ago, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were a couple transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no openly transgender athletes currently play in the NWSL. On the current season's first matchdays, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth player. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Fears and Actual Damage

Eddy's piece is framed as if there is a pipeline of trans players set to take over the league at a moment's notice. This is not the case. There are currently no out trans players competing at a elite level in the United States. National laws expressly prohibits trans players from competing in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed research have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

In the absence of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have persisted along ethnic divisions. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was named player of the year, she experienced a wave of online abuse. The NWSL was slow to respond in defending their star player. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced comparable mistreatment.

“The piece does not represent for our club in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We disagree with the content for a plethora of reasons, but mostly the implications come across as transphobic and racist as well.”

Other Pressing Problems Confronting the League

Even if one were to overlook all that and think that including transgender athletes constitutes a real problem for the league, it's difficult to see how it would surpass multiple of different challenges that have truly hindered the growth and compromised its integrity.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a concern. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are taking legal action against the team and the league, alleging bias based on race and ability, unwanted advances, and failure to stop prejudice.
• Athlete welfare is a further area of concern. In May, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the field, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play resumed, even though players were visibly upset. The players' association called on the NWSL to revisit their health procedures.
• Severe climate guidelines have also been questioned. During a nationally televised match, the NWSL commissioner allegedly threatened to penalize a team over a dispute in extreme heat procedures.
• Financial rivalry from leagues abroad like the Women's Super League is increasing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the NWSL and country where they built their professional lives.

Transgender players did not factor into any one of these challenges. And it's unlikely they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes come to pass.