Women's Football Confronts Significant Challenges, So Why the Alarm About Trans Athletes?
During late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first social media statement in almost two years. Within her message, she responded to news that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly dropped its policy of inclusion for trans and intersex athletes, making the league's future stance unclear.
The following day, her opinion piece was republished in full by another media outlet, providing wider attention.
“I worry that lacking clear guidelines about who the league is for, it will lose its character and its momentum,” Eddy wrote.
Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on transgender players from the league to preserve “the integrity of female athletics.”
Questioning the Actual Threat
It's unclear how Eddy thinks the league's credibility has been damaged—whether under its former policy that allowed transgender players or its current absence of policy. The organization, now in its 13th season, has established a clear brand. It's extremely contested, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the worldwide female football landscape.
The league's momentum seems mostly fine—viewership have increased each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.
Examining the Evidence
Eddy cites the English FA's new prohibition on trans players as a positive example. However, that ban is thought to impact only 20 or so amateur players out of millions soccer players. The effect in the US would likely be equally negligible.
In 2021, when the NWSL's policy of inclusion took effect, there were a couple trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes currently play in the league. On the current season's first matchdays, the NWSL welcomed its 1,000th player. That's just two out trans players out of more than a thousand in league history.
Baseless Fears and Actual Damage
The article is framed as if there is a stream of transgender athletes set to dominate the NWSL imminently. There is no such thing. There are currently no out trans players competing at a professional level in the United States. Federal legislation 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 cisgender competitors.
In the absence of out trans people, discriminatory behavior have persisted along ethnic divisions. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she faced a surge of digital harassment. The league was slow to respond in supporting their key athlete. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced similar abuse.
“The piece does not represent for our club in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden told reporters. “We disagree with the content for a plethora of causes, but mostly the undertones come across as discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”
Other Urgent Issues Facing the League
Regardless if one were to overlook these points and believe that trans inclusion constitutes a real problem for the league, it's difficult to see how it would surpass any number of other issues that have truly blunted the growth and affected its reputation.
- Working conditions for staff remain a concern. Six former San Diego Wave employees are suing the team and the league, alleging bias based on race and ability, unwanted advances, and negligence to stop prejudice.
- Player care is a further issue. In spring, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring urgent care. On-field play resumed, even though teammates were visibly distraught. The players' association called on the NWSL to revisit their medical protocols.
- Extreme weather protocols have also been questioned. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner allegedly threatened to penalize a team over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
- Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is increasing, luring top talent away from the NWSL and country where they built their professional lives.
Trans athletes did not factor into a single one of these challenges. And it's unlikely they will, regardless of whether Eddy's suggestions come to pass.