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On late October, Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy posted her initial online post in almost two years. In it, she responded to news that the NWSL had discreetly abandoned its policy of inclusion for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the league's position unclear.

The following day, her writing was shared completely by a different media outlet, giving it wider exposure.

“I'm concerned that lacking clear guidelines about who the league is for, it will lose its identity and its momentum,” Eddy wrote.

The article generally argued for a prohibition on trans athletes from the NWSL to preserve “the integrity of women's sports.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It's unclear how Eddy believes the league's integrity has been harmed—either under its former policy that allowed transgender players or its current absence of policy. The organization, now in its 13th season, has developed a distinct identity. It's highly competitive, influential in business and culture, and an essential part of the global women's soccer scene.

Its growth trajectory seems mostly strong—audience numbers have grown every season, and expansion to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.

Examining the Data

Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, that restriction is believed to impact only approximately twenty amateur players out of 5.5 million soccer players. The effect in the United States would likely be similarly minimal.

Two years ago, when the league's policy of inclusion was implemented, there were two trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes currently compete in the league. On the 2025 season's opening weekend, the league welcomed its thousandth participant. That's just two out trans players out of over 1,000 in league history.

Baseless Concerns and Real Harm

The article is written as if there is a pipeline of transgender athletes ready to dominate the NWSL imminently. There is no such thing. There are currently no out trans players competing at a elite level in the United States. Federal legislation explicitly prohibits transgender athletes from competing in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, multiple peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

In the absence of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have continued along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she experienced a surge of digital harassment. The league was slow to respond in defending their key athlete. Likewise, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced comparable abuse.

“That article does not speak for our club in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We disagree with the content for a multitude of causes, but mostly the implications come across as transphobic and prejudiced as well.”

Additional Pressing Issues Confronting the NWSL

Even if one were to overlook all that and believe that trans inclusion constitutes a genuine issue for the league, it's difficult to see how it would outrank any number of other issues that have actually hindered the league's momentum and compromised its reputation.

• Working conditions for staff continue to be a problem. Six former San Diego Wave employees are taking legal action against the club and the NWSL, alleging bias based on race and ability, sexual harassment, and negligence to stop discrimination.
• Athlete welfare is another area of concern. In May, a player Savy King fell on the field, requiring urgent care. The match resumed, even though players were clearly distraught. The players' association called on the league to revisit their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather guidelines have additionally been questioned. During a nationally televised match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly threatened to fine a club over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
• Economic rivalry from European leagues like the WSL is growing, attracting top talent away from the league and country where they made their careers.

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