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During the end of October, Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy made her initial online post in almost two years. Within her message, she addressed news that the National Women's Soccer League had quietly dropped its policy of inclusion for transgender and intersex players, making the organization's future stance unclear.

The next day, her opinion piece was republished in full by another media outlet, providing broader attention.

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

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

Examining the Actual Threat

It remains uncertain how Eddy thinks the NWSL's integrity has been harmed—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed transgender players or its present lack of one. The organization, now in its 13th season, has developed a distinct identity. It's highly competitive, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the worldwide female football scene.

Its growth trajectory appears largely fine—audience numbers 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 success story. However, that ban is thought to affect only approximately twenty grassroots participants out of millions soccer players. The effect in the United States would likely be equally minimal.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently play in the league. On the 2025 season's first matchdays, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth player. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in league history.

Baseless Concerns and Real Damage

Eddy's piece is written as if there is a stream of trans players set to take over the NWSL at a moment's notice. This is not the case. At present, there are no openly transgender players competing at a professional level in the United States. National laws explicitly prohibits trans players from competing in university sports. Additionally, numerous peer-reviewed research have shown that transgender players have no biological advantages over cis athletes.

In the absence of out trans people, transphobic attacks have persisted along racial lines. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she faced a surge of online abuse. The NWSL was slow to respond in defending their star player. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced similar abuse.

“That article does not speak for this team in our dressing room,” team leader Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We don't agree with the content for a multitude of causes, but mostly the undertones come across as transphobic and prejudiced as well.”

Other Pressing Issues Facing the NWSL

Regardless if one were to ignore these points and think that including transgender athletes represents a real problem for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would surpass any number of other issues that have truly blunted the growth and affected its reputation.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a problem. Six former San Diego Wave employees are suing the team and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent discrimination.
• Athlete welfare is a further issue. In spring, a player Savy King collapsed on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play continued, despite teammates were clearly upset. The NWSLPA called on the NWSL to review their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather protocols have additionally been challenged. During a nationally televised match, the league head reportedly warned to fine a team over a dispute in hot weather policies.
• Financial competition 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.

Transgender players were not involved into a single one of these issues. And it's improbable they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes are implemented.