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On late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her first online post in almost two years. Within her message, she addressed reports that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the organization's future stance undecided.

The next day, her writing was shared in full by a different media outlet, giving it wider exposure.

“I worry that without clarity about the league's intended participants, it will sacrifice its identity and its momentum,” Eddy wrote.

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

Questioning the Real Threat

It remains uncertain how Eddy believes the NWSL's credibility has been damaged—whether under its former policy that allowed transgender players or its current lack of one. The league, now in its 13th season, has established a clear brand. It's extremely contested, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the global women's soccer landscape.

The league's momentum seems largely strong—viewership have grown each year, and growth 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 ban is believed to affect only 20 or so amateur players out of millions soccer players. The impact in the United States would likely be equally negligible.

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

Baseless Concerns and Real Harm

The article is framed as if there is a pipeline of trans players set to take over the NWSL at a moment's notice. There is no such thing. At present, there are no openly transgender players competing at a professional level in the United States. National laws expressly prohibits transgender athletes from participating in university sports. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that trans athletes have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

In the absence of out trans people, transphobic attacks have persisted along ethnic divisions. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she experienced a surge of digital harassment. The league was painfully slow in defending their star player. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced comparable mistreatment.

“The piece does not speak for our club in this locker room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We disagree with the things written for a multitude of reasons, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and racist as well.”

Other Pressing Issues Confronting the NWSL

Even if one were to ignore these points and believe that trans inclusion represents a genuine issue for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would surpass multiple of other issues that have truly blunted the growth and affected its reputation.

• Employment standards for professionals remain a problem. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are suing the team and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and negligence to stop prejudice.
• Player care is a further issue. In spring, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. The match resumed, even though teammates were visibly upset. The NWSLPA called on the league to revisit their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather protocols have also been questioned. During a nationally televised match, the NWSL commissioner allegedly warned to penalize a team over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
• Economic rivalry from European leagues like the WSL is increasing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the NWSL and nation where they built their professional lives.

Transgender players did not factor into a single one of these challenges. And it's unlikely they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes come to pass.