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During late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her first social media post in nearly two years. Within her message, she addressed reports that the NWSL had quietly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, making the league's future stance undecided.

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

“I'm concerned that lacking clear guidelines about the league's intended participants, it will lose its identity and its growth,” Eddy wrote.

Her piece broadly advocated for a ban on transgender players from the league to preserve “the fairness of women's sports.”

Questioning the Real Threat

It's unclear how Eddy thinks the NWSL's integrity has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that permitted trans athletes or its current absence of policy. The organization, now in its thirteenth year, has established a clear identity. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the global female football scene.

The league's momentum appears largely fine—viewership have increased every season, and expansion to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.

Analyzing the Evidence

Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a success story. Yet, that restriction is believed to affect only 20 or so grassroots players out of 5.5 million registered athletes. The effect in the US would likely be similarly minimal.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two transgender athletes: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently play in the league. On the current season's opening weekend, the league welcomed its thousandth participant. That's just two out trans players out of over 1,000 in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Fears and Real Harm

The article is written as if there is a pipeline of trans players ready to dominate the league imminently. There is no such thing. There are currently no out trans players competing at a professional level in the United States. National laws expressly bans transgender athletes from competing in university sports. Additionally, numerous scientifically reviewed studies have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cisgender competitors.

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 faced 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.

“The piece does not represent for this team in our dressing room,” team leader Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We disagree with the things written for a plethora of causes, but mostly the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”

Other Pressing Problems Confronting the League

Even if one were to overlook all that and think that trans inclusion constitutes a real problem for the league, it's hard to see how it would surpass multiple of different challenges that have truly hindered the league's momentum and affected its reputation.

• Employment standards for professionals continue to be a concern. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are suing the team and the NWSL, alleging bias based on race and ability, sexual harassment, and negligence to prevent discrimination.
• Player care is a further area of concern. In May, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play resumed, despite players were clearly upset. The players' association called on the league to revisit their medical protocols.
• Severe climate protocols have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the league head allegedly warned to penalize a team over a dispute in hot weather policies.
• Economic rivalry from European leagues like the WSL is growing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and country where they built their professional lives.

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