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During late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first online statement in almost two years. Within her message, she addressed reports that the National Women's Soccer League had quietly abandoned its inclusion policy for trans and intersex players, making the league's future stance unclear.

The next day, her writing was republished in full by another media outlet, giving it wider attention.

“I worry that without clarity about who the league is for, it will lose its identity and its growth,” stated Eddy.

Her piece broadly advocated for a ban on trans athletes from the NWSL to preserve “the integrity of female athletics.”

Examining the Real Risk

It remains uncertain how Eddy believes the NWSL's integrity has been harmed—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed trans athletes or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its thirteenth year, has established a clear identity. It's extremely contested, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the global female football landscape.

Its growth trajectory seems largely fine—audience numbers have grown each year, and growth to 16 teams is scheduled for the coming years.

Analyzing the Evidence

Eddy references the Football Association's new prohibition on transgender athletes as a success story. Yet, that ban is believed to affect only approximately twenty amateur players out of millions soccer players. The effect in the US would likely be similarly minimal.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were a couple transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no out trans players presently play in the league. On the 2025 season's opening weekend, the league welcomed its 1,000th participant. That's only two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Fears and Actual Harm

The article is framed as if there is a stream of trans players set to dominate the league imminently. This is not the case. At present, there are no out trans players playing at a professional level in the United States. Federal legislation expressly bans transgender athletes from competing in university sports. Additionally, numerous scientifically reviewed research have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

Without of openly transgender individuals, discriminatory behavior have continued along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she experienced a wave of online abuse. The league was painfully slow in defending their key athlete. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced similar abuse.

“The piece does not represent for this team in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We don't agree with the things written for a multitude of causes, but mostly the implications come across as transphobic and racist as well.”

Additional Pressing Problems Confronting the League

Even if one were to ignore these points and think that including transgender athletes constitutes a genuine issue for the league, it's hard to see how it would surpass any number of different challenges that have actually blunted the league's momentum and affected its reputation.

• Employment standards for staff remain a problem. Six former club employees are suing the team and the league, alleging racial and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent discrimination.
• Player care is another area of concern. In spring, Angel City defender Savy King fell on the field, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play resumed, despite players were clearly distraught. The NWSLPA called on the league to review their health procedures.
• Extreme weather protocols have also been questioned. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly warned to fine a team over a disagreement in extreme heat procedures.
• Financial rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is increasing, luring 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 any one of these issues. And it's improbable they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes come to pass.