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On late October, ACFC player Elizabeth Eddy posted her initial online statement in almost two years. In it, she addressed news that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly abandoned its policy of inclusion for transgender and intersex players, making the league's future stance undecided.

The next day, her writing was shared in full by another media outlet, providing broader exposure.

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

The article broadly advocated for a prohibition on trans athletes from the league to protect “the integrity of women's sports.”

Questioning the Actual Risk

It remains uncertain how Eddy believes the league'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 developed a distinct identity. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an essential part of the worldwide women's soccer scene.

The league's momentum seems mostly fine—audience numbers have increased each year, and expansion to sixteen clubs is planned for the coming years.

Examining the Evidence

Eddy cites the English FA's recent ban on trans players as a success story. However, that ban is thought to impact only approximately twenty grassroots participants out of millions soccer players. The effect in the US would likely be similarly minimal.

In 2021, when the league's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two trans players: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no openly transgender athletes currently compete in the NWSL. On the current season's opening weekend, the NWSL celebrated its thousandth player. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of over 1,000 in league history.

Unfounded Fears and Actual Harm

The article is written as if there is a stream of trans players set to take over the league imminently. This is not the case. There are currently no out trans players competing at a elite level in the US. Federal legislation explicitly prohibits transgender athletes from participating in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed research have demonstrated that transgender players have no biological advantages over cisgender competitors.

In the absence of openly transgender individuals, discriminatory behavior have continued along racial lines. 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 key athlete. Similarly, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister have experienced comparable abuse.

“That article does not represent for our club in our dressing room,” Angel City FC captain Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We don't agree with the things written for a plethora of reasons, but mostly the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”

Other Pressing Issues Facing the NWSL

Even if one were to overlook these points and believe that including transgender athletes represents a genuine issue for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would outrank any number of different challenges that have truly blunted the growth and compromised its integrity.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a problem. Six former club employees are suing the team and the NWSL, alleging bias based on race and ability, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent prejudice.
• Athlete welfare is another area of concern. In spring, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring urgent care. The match resumed, despite players were visibly upset. The players' association called on the NWSL to revisit their health procedures.
• Severe climate protocols have also been questioned. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly warned to fine a club over a disagreement in extreme heat procedures.
• Financial competition from European leagues like the Women's Super League is growing, attracting top talent away from the NWSL and country where they made their careers.

Trans athletes were not involved into a single one of these challenges. And it's unlikely they will, regardless of whether the proposed changes are implemented.