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On late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her initial online statement in nearly two years. In it, she addressed news that the NWSL had discreetly dropped its policy of inclusion for trans and intersex players, leaving the organization's future stance unclear.

The next day, her opinion piece was shared in full by another media outlet, providing broader attention.

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

Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on transgender players from the NWSL to preserve “the integrity of female athletics.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It's unclear how Eddy believes the league's integrity has been damaged—either under its former policy that permitted trans athletes or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its thirteenth year, has established a distinct brand. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the worldwide female football scene.

Its growth trajectory seems mostly strong—audience numbers have increased each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is planned for 2026.

Analyzing the Data

Eddy cites the Football Association's recent ban on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, that restriction is believed to impact only approximately twenty grassroots participants out of millions soccer players. The impact in the United States would likely be equally negligible.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two transgender athletes: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no out trans players currently compete in the league. On the current season's opening weekend, the league celebrated its thousandth participant. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in league history.

Baseless Concerns and Real Damage

Eddy's piece is written as if there is a stream of transgender athletes set to take over the league imminently. There is no such thing. There are currently no out trans players competing at a professional level in the US. Federal legislation expressly bans trans players from participating in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, numerous scientifically reviewed research have shown that trans athletes have no biological advantages over cis athletes.

In the absence of openly transgender individuals, discriminatory behavior have continued along ethnic divisions. When Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she faced a surge of online abuse. The NWSL was slow to respond in supporting their key athlete. Likewise, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced comparable mistreatment.

“That article does not speak for our club in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden told the media. “We disagree with the content for a plethora of causes, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”

Other Urgent Issues Confronting the League

Regardless if one were to overlook these points and think that including transgender athletes constitutes a real problem for the league, it's difficult to see how it would outrank any number of other issues that have truly blunted the league's momentum and compromised its integrity.

• Employment standards for professionals remain a concern. Several ex- club employees are taking legal action against the club and the league, alleging bias based on race and ability, sexual harassment, and failure to stop discrimination.
• Athlete welfare is another area of concern. In spring, Angel City defender Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring emergency medical treatment. The match continued, despite teammates were clearly distraught. The players' association called on the league to revisit their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather guidelines have also been questioned. During a nationally televised match, the league head reportedly threatened to fine a team over a dispute in extreme heat procedures.
• Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is increasing, luring some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and nation where they built their professional lives.

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