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During the end of October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first online statement in nearly two years. In it, she addressed news that the National Women's Soccer League had quietly abandoned its inclusion policy for transgender and intersex athletes, making the organization's future stance unclear.

The following day, her opinion piece was republished in full by another publication, providing broader attention.

“I worry that lacking clear guidelines about who the league is for, it will lose its character and its growth,” stated Eddy.

Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on transgender players from the NWSL to protect “the fairness of women's sports.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It's unclear how Eddy thinks the NWSL's credibility has been damaged—either under its previous guidelines that allowed trans athletes or its current lack of one. The organization, now in its thirteenth year, has developed a clear identity. It's extremely contested, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the global women's soccer landscape.

Its growth trajectory appears mostly strong—viewership have grown each year, and growth to 16 teams is scheduled for 2026.

Analyzing the Data

Eddy references the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, that restriction is thought to impact only approximately twenty amateur participants out of 5.5 million soccer players. The effect in the US would likely be similarly negligible.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two trans players: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently compete in the league. On the current season's opening weekend, the league celebrated its thousandth participant. That's only two openly transgender individuals out of over 1,000 in league history.

Baseless Concerns and Actual Harm

The article is written as if there is a pipeline of trans players set to dominate the NWSL imminently. This is not the case. At present, there are no openly transgender players playing at a elite level in the United States. Federal legislation explicitly prohibits transgender athletes from competing in university sports. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that trans athletes have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

Without of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have persisted along racial lines. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she faced a wave of online abuse. The league was slow to respond in defending their star player. Similarly, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced similar mistreatment.

“The piece does not speak for our club in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We don't agree with the things written for a multitude of reasons, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”

Other Urgent Problems Facing the NWSL

Regardless if one were to ignore these points and believe that trans inclusion constitutes a genuine issue for the league, it's hard to see how it would outrank any number of other issues that have actually blunted the growth and compromised its integrity.

• Employment standards for staff continue to be a problem. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are suing the club and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and negligence to prevent prejudice.
• Athlete welfare is another issue. In spring, a player Savy King collapsed on the field, requiring urgent care. On-field play resumed, even though teammates were clearly upset. The players' association called on the league to review their health procedures.
• Severe climate guidelines have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the league head allegedly threatened to penalize a team over a disagreement in extreme heat procedures.
• Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is growing, luring top talent away from the NWSL and country where they built their professional lives.

Trans athletes did not factor into any one of these issues. And it's unlikely they will, regardless of whether the proposed changes come to pass.