Female Football Confronts Significant Challenges, So Why the Alarm About Transgender Athletes?
On the end of October, Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy posted her initial social media statement in nearly two years. In it, she responded to news that the NWSL had discreetly abandoned its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the organization's position undecided.
The following day, her opinion piece was shared in full by another publication, giving it broader attention.
“I worry that without clarity about the league's intended participants, it will sacrifice its character and its growth,” Eddy wrote.
The article generally argued for a prohibition on trans athletes from the league to protect “the fairness of women's sports.”
Examining the Actual Risk
It's unclear how Eddy believes the league's credibility has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed transgender players or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a distinct identity. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the worldwide female football scene.
The league's momentum appears mostly fine—viewership have increased each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.
Examining the Evidence
Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on trans players as a positive example. However, that ban is believed to affect only 20 or so grassroots participants out of millions soccer players. The impact in the US would likely be equally minimal.
In 2021, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were two transgender athletes: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently compete in the NWSL. On the current season's opening weekend, the league celebrated its thousandth participant. That's only two out trans players out of over 1,000 in league history.
Unfounded Fears and Real Harm
The article is written as if there is a pipeline of transgender athletes set to take over the league at a moment's notice. There is no such thing. At present, there are no out trans players playing at a elite level in the United States. National laws explicitly bans transgender athletes from competing in university sports. Additionally, numerous peer-reviewed research have shown that trans athletes have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.
Without of openly transgender individuals, discriminatory behavior have persisted along racial lines. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she experienced a wave of online abuse. The NWSL was painfully slow in supporting their star player. Likewise, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced comparable mistreatment.
“That article does not represent for our club in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden told reporters. “We don't agree with the things written for a plethora of causes, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and racist as well.”
Other Urgent Issues Confronting the NWSL
Regardless if one were to overlook all that and believe that including transgender athletes represents a genuine issue for the NWSL, it's difficult to see how it would outrank multiple of other issues that have actually blunted the growth and compromised its reputation.
- Employment standards for staff continue to be a concern. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are suing the club and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent discrimination.
- Player care is a further area of concern. In spring, a player Savy King collapsed on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play continued, despite teammates were visibly distraught. The players' association called on the NWSL to review their health procedures.
- Extreme weather protocols have also been questioned. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner allegedly threatened to penalize a team over a dispute in extreme heat procedures.
- Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is increasing, luring top talent away from the league and country where they made their careers.
Transgender players were not involved into a single one of these challenges. And it's improbable they will, irrespective of whether Eddy's suggestions are implemented.