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On late October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy posted her first social media post in almost two years. In it, she addressed reports that the NWSL had quietly dropped its policy of inclusion for transgender and intersex athletes, making the league's position undecided.

The next day, her opinion piece was republished completely by a different publication, giving it wider exposure.

“I'm concerned that without clarity about the league's intended participants, it will lose its character and its growth,” stated Eddy.

The article broadly advocated for a ban on transgender players from the league to protect “the fairness of women's sports.”

Questioning the Real Threat

It's unclear how Eddy believes the NWSL's integrity has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed transgender players or its current lack of one. The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear identity. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an essential part of the global women's soccer landscape.

Its growth trajectory seems largely fine—audience numbers have grown each year, and growth to sixteen clubs is scheduled for 2026.

Analyzing the Data

Eddy cites the Football Association's recent ban on trans players as a positive example. However, that ban is thought to impact only 20 or so grassroots participants out of millions registered athletes. The effect in the United States would likely be equally negligible.

Two years ago, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, 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 2025 season's opening weekend, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth player. That's only two out trans players out of over 1,000 in league history.

Unfounded Concerns and Real Damage

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

In the absence of out trans people, discriminatory behavior have continued along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was named player of the year, she experienced a surge of digital harassment. The NWSL was slow to respond in defending their key athlete. Similarly, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced similar mistreatment.

“That article does not speak for this team in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden told reporters. “We disagree with the things written for a plethora of reasons, but primarily the implications come across as transphobic and prejudiced as well.”

Other Pressing Issues Confronting the League

Regardless if one were to overlook all that and believe that including transgender athletes constitutes a genuine issue for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would surpass multiple of other issues that have truly hindered the growth and affected its reputation.

• Working conditions for staff remain a concern. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are taking legal action against the team and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and failure to stop discrimination.
• Player care is a further issue. In spring, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring urgent care. The match continued, despite players were clearly upset. The NWSLPA called on the NWSL to review their health procedures.
• 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 hot weather policies.
• Financial rivalry from European leagues like the Women's Super League is growing, attracting 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 a single one of these challenges. And it's improbable they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes are implemented.