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On late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first online statement in nearly two years. Within her message, she addressed reports that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly abandoned its inclusion policy for trans and intersex players, leaving the league's position unclear.

The next day, her writing was shared completely by a different media outlet, providing wider attention.

“I worry that lacking clear guidelines about who the league is for, it will sacrifice its character and its momentum,” Eddy wrote.

Her piece generally argued for a prohibition on trans athletes from the NWSL to protect “the integrity of female athletics.”

Questioning the Actual Threat

It's unclear how Eddy thinks the NWSL's integrity has been damaged—either under its former policy that allowed trans athletes or its current lack of one. The organization, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear identity. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the worldwide female football scene.

The league's momentum seems mostly fine—viewership have increased every season, and growth to 16 teams is planned for 2026.

Analyzing the Evidence

Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a success story. Yet, that restriction is thought to impact only approximately twenty grassroots players out of millions soccer players. The impact in the US would likely be similarly negligible.

In 2021, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were a couple transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no openly transgender athletes presently compete in the NWSL. On the 2025 season's first matchdays, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth participant. That's only two out trans players out of more than a thousand in league history.

Unfounded Fears and Actual Damage

The article is framed as if there is a stream of transgender athletes set to take over the NWSL imminently. There is no such thing. At present, there are no out trans players competing at a elite level in the United States. National laws expressly prohibits transgender athletes from participating in university sports. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed research have shown that trans athletes have no biological advantages over cis athletes.

Without of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have persisted along racial lines. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was named player of the year, she faced a surge of online abuse. The NWSL was painfully slow in defending their key athlete. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced similar mistreatment.

“The piece does not represent for this team in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We don't agree with the content for a multitude of reasons, but primarily the undertones come across as transphobic and prejudiced as well.”

Other Urgent Issues Facing the League

Regardless if one were to ignore these points and believe that including transgender athletes represents a real problem for the league, it's hard to see how it would surpass any number of different challenges that have actually hindered the growth and compromised its reputation.

• Employment standards for professionals continue to be a problem. Six former club employees are taking legal action against the team and the NWSL, 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, despite teammates were clearly upset. The NWSLPA called on the league to review their medical protocols.
• Severe climate protocols have additionally been challenged. During a nationally televised match, the league head allegedly warned to penalize a club over a disagreement in extreme heat procedures.
• Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the Women's Super League is increasing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the NWSL and nation where they made their careers.

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