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During late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first online statement in nearly two years. In it, she addressed news that the NWSL had quietly dropped its policy of inclusion for trans and intersex athletes, making the organization's position unclear.

The next day, her writing was shared in full by a different media outlet, providing broader attention.

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

The article broadly advocated for a prohibition on trans athletes from the league to preserve “the integrity of female athletics.”

Examining the Actual Threat

It's unclear how Eddy believes the league's credibility has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed trans athletes or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear brand. It's highly competitive, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the worldwide female football scene.

The league's momentum seems largely fine—viewership have grown each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is scheduled for the coming years.

Analyzing the Evidence

Eddy references the English FA's recent ban on trans players as a positive example. However, that restriction is believed to impact only 20 or so amateur players out of millions registered athletes. The impact in the United States would likely be similarly minimal.

In 2021, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were two trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently play in the NWSL. On the 2025 season's opening weekend, the league celebrated its 1,000th player. That's only two openly transgender individuals out of over 1,000 in league history.

Unfounded Fears and Actual Damage

The article is written as if there is a stream of transgender athletes ready to take over the league imminently. This is not the case. There are currently no openly transgender players playing at a elite level in the United States. National laws explicitly prohibits trans players from competing in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, multiple scientifically reviewed studies have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cisgender competitors.

Without of out trans people, discriminatory behavior have continued along racial lines. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she faced a surge of online abuse. The league was painfully slow in supporting their key athlete. Similarly, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced similar abuse.

“The piece does not represent for our club in our dressing room,” team leader Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We don't agree with the content for a multitude of reasons, but mostly the undertones come across as transphobic and prejudiced as well.”

Other Urgent Problems Confronting the NWSL

Regardless if one were to overlook all that and believe that including transgender athletes 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 growth and compromised its integrity.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a problem. Several ex- club employees are taking legal action against the team and the league, alleging racial and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and negligence to prevent prejudice.
• Athlete welfare is another issue. In spring, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the field, requiring urgent care. The match resumed, despite teammates were visibly distraught. The players' association called on the league to revisit their health procedures.
• Extreme weather protocols have also been challenged. During a broadcast match, the league head reportedly warned to penalize a club over a dispute in hot weather policies.
• Financial competition from European leagues like the Women's Super League is growing, attracting some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and country where they built their professional lives.

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