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On late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her first social media post in almost two years. In it, she responded to news that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly abandoned its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the league's future stance unclear.

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

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

Her piece generally argued for a ban on trans athletes from the league to protect “the fairness of female athletics.”

Examining the Real Risk

It's unclear how Eddy believes the NWSL's credibility has been damaged—either under its previous guidelines that permitted transgender players or its current absence of policy. The organization, now in its 13th season, has developed a distinct brand. It's extremely contested, influential in business and culture, and an essential part of the worldwide female football landscape.

The league's momentum seems mostly fine—audience numbers have grown every season, and growth to sixteen clubs is scheduled for the coming years.

Examining the Data

Eddy references the Football Association's recent ban on transgender athletes as a success story. However, that ban is thought to affect only approximately twenty grassroots participants out of 5.5 million soccer players. The effect in the United States would likely be similarly minimal.

In 2021, when the league's policy of inclusion took effect, there were two transgender athletes: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no out trans players currently compete in the league. On the 2025 season's first matchdays, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth participant. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of over 1,000 in league history.

Baseless Fears and Real Damage

Eddy's piece is written as if there is a pipeline of transgender athletes ready to take over the NWSL imminently. There is no such thing. At present, there are no out trans players playing at a professional level in the US. National laws explicitly bans transgender athletes from participating in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, multiple scientifically reviewed studies have shown that trans athletes have no biological advantages over cisgender competitors.

In the absence of out trans people, discriminatory behavior have persisted along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was named a top honor, she experienced a surge of digital harassment. The NWSL was slow to respond in defending their key athlete. Likewise, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced similar mistreatment.

“The piece does not represent for our club in our dressing room,” team leader Sarah Gorden told reporters. “We don't agree with the things written for a multitude of causes, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and racist as well.”

Additional Pressing Issues Confronting the League

Even 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 outrank any number of different challenges that have actually blunted the growth and affected its reputation.

• Working conditions for staff remain a problem. Several ex- club employees are taking legal action against the team and the league, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and negligence to stop discrimination.
• Player care is another issue. In May, a player Savy King collapsed on the field, requiring urgent care. On-field play continued, despite players were clearly distraught. The players' association called on the league to review their medical protocols.
• Severe climate guidelines have additionally been questioned. During a nationally televised match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly threatened to penalize a team over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
• Economic 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 made their careers.

Trans athletes were not involved into any one of these challenges. And it's improbable they will, regardless of whether Eddy's suggestions come to pass.