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On late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her initial online statement in almost two years. In it, she responded to news that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly dropped its inclusion policy for transgender and intersex players, making the league's future stance undecided.

The next day, her opinion piece was republished completely by another publication, giving it broader attention.

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

Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on trans athletes from the NWSL to preserve “the fairness of women's sports.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It remains uncertain how Eddy thinks the league's integrity has been harmed—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed transgender players or its current absence of policy. The organization, now in its 13th season, has established a distinct brand. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an essential part of the global female football scene.

Its growth trajectory seems mostly strong—viewership have grown each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is planned for the coming years.

Examining the Evidence

Eddy references the English FA's recent ban on trans players as a positive example. However, that ban is believed to affect only approximately twenty grassroots participants out of millions registered athletes. The impact in the US would likely be similarly negligible.

In 2021, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no out trans players currently compete in the NWSL. On the 2025 season's opening weekend, the NWSL celebrated its 1,000th player. That's only two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Concerns and Actual Harm

The article is framed as if there is a pipeline of transgender athletes ready to take over the league imminently. This is not the case. At present, there are no out trans players competing at a elite level in the US. Federal legislation explicitly prohibits transgender athletes from competing in university sports. Additionally, multiple peer-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 Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she experienced a wave of online abuse. The league was painfully slow in supporting their star player. Likewise, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced similar mistreatment.

“The piece does not represent for this team in our dressing room,” team leader 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 Pressing Issues Facing the NWSL

Regardless if one were to overlook these points and think that including transgender athletes constitutes a real problem for the NWSL, it's difficult to see how it would surpass any number of different challenges that have actually hindered the growth and compromised its integrity.

• Working conditions for professionals continue to be a problem. Several ex- club employees are taking legal action against the club and the league, alleging bias based on race and ability, unwanted advances, and failure to prevent prejudice.
• Player care is another area of concern. In May, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play continued, even though teammates were clearly distraught. The players' association called on the league to review their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather guidelines have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly threatened to penalize a club over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
• Financial rivalry from European leagues like the Women's Super League is growing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and country where they built their professional lives.

Transgender players were not involved into a single one of these issues. And it's unlikely they will, regardless of whether Eddy's suggestions come to pass.