Female Soccer Confronts Significant Challenges, So Why the Panic About Transgender Players?
On late October, ACFC player Elizabeth Eddy made her initial online statement in nearly two years. Within her message, she responded to reports that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex players, making the organization's future stance undecided.
The following day, her writing was shared in full by another media outlet, providing broader attention.
“I'm concerned that lacking clear guidelines about the league's intended participants, it will sacrifice its identity and its momentum,” stated Eddy.
Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on transgender players from the NWSL to preserve “the integrity of women's sports.”
Questioning the Real Risk
It remains uncertain how Eddy believes the NWSL's credibility has been harmed—whether under its previous guidelines that permitted trans athletes or its current absence of policy. The league, now in its thirteenth year, has developed a clear identity. It's extremely contested, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the worldwide women's soccer landscape.
The league's momentum seems mostly strong—audience numbers have grown every season, and expansion to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.
Analyzing the Evidence
Eddy cites the English FA's new prohibition on transgender athletes as a positive example. Yet, that ban is believed to affect only 20 or so grassroots participants out of 5.5 million registered athletes. The effect in the US would likely be similarly minimal.
In 2021, when the NWSL's policy of inclusion took effect, there were two trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no openly transgender athletes currently compete in the league. On the 2025 season's opening weekend, the NWSL welcomed its 1,000th participant. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in the NWSL's existence.
Unfounded Concerns and Real Damage
The article is written as if there is a stream of trans players ready to take over the league at a moment's notice. This is not the case. There are currently no openly transgender players playing at a elite level in the US. National laws expressly bans transgender athletes from competing in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that trans athletes have no biological advantages over cisgender competitors.
In the absence of openly transgender individuals, discriminatory behavior have continued along ethnic divisions. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was named a top honor, she experienced a wave of digital harassment. The league was painfully slow in defending their key athlete. Likewise, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced comparable mistreatment.
“That article does not speak for our club in this locker room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We don't agree with the content for a plethora of causes, but mostly the undertones come across as discriminatory against trans people and racist as well.”
Additional Urgent Problems Confronting the League
Regardless if one were to overlook these points and believe that including transgender athletes represents a real problem for the league, it's difficult to see how it would surpass multiple of other issues that have actually hindered the league's momentum and compromised its reputation.
- Working conditions for professionals remain a concern. Several ex- club employees are suing the club and the league, alleging bias based on race and ability, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent discrimination.
- Player care is another issue. In May, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play resumed, even though players were clearly upset. The NWSLPA called on the NWSL to revisit their health procedures.
- Extreme weather protocols have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly threatened to penalize a team over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
- Economic rivalry from European leagues like the Women's Super League is growing, attracting some of the NWSL's best players away from the NWSL and country where they built their professional lives.
Trans athletes were not involved into a single one of these issues. And it's improbable they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes are implemented.
