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During late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her first social media post in nearly two years. Within her message, she responded to reports that the NWSL had quietly abandoned its policy of inclusion for transgender and intersex players, leaving the organization's future stance undecided.

The following day, her opinion piece was shared in full by a different media outlet, giving it broader exposure.

“I worry that lacking clear guidelines about who the league is for, it will lose its identity and its growth,” Eddy wrote.

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

Questioning the Real Risk

It's unclear how Eddy believes the NWSL's integrity has been damaged—whether under its former policy that permitted trans athletes or its current lack of one. The league, now in its thirteenth year, has established a distinct brand. It's highly competitive, influential in business and culture, and an integral part of the worldwide female football landscape.

The league's momentum seems mostly fine—audience numbers have grown each year, and growth to 16 teams is scheduled for 2026.

Analyzing the Evidence

Eddy references the Football Association's new prohibition on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, 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 NWSL's trans inclusion policy took effect, there were two trans players: Quinn and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes currently play in the NWSL. On the current season's first matchdays, the NWSL welcomed its 1,000th player. That's only two out trans players out of more than a thousand in league history.

Unfounded Concerns and Actual Damage

Eddy's piece is written as if there is a pipeline of trans players ready to dominate the league imminently. This is not the case. There are currently no out trans players competing at a professional level in the US. National laws expressly bans trans players from participating in university sports. Additionally, numerous scientifically reviewed research have demonstrated that transgender players have no biological advantages over cisgender competitors.

Without of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have persisted along racial lines. When a club's Barbra Banda was named player of the year, she experienced a surge of online abuse. The league was painfully slow in defending their star player. Similarly, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced similar abuse.

“That article does not represent for this team in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden informed the media. “We don't agree with the content for a multitude of causes, but primarily the implications come across as discriminatory against trans people and racist as well.”

Additional Urgent Problems Facing the League

Regardless if one were to overlook all that and believe that including transgender athletes represents a genuine issue for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would outrank multiple of different challenges that have truly hindered the growth and compromised its integrity.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a problem. Six former San Diego Wave employees are taking legal action against the club and the league, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and failure to prevent discrimination.
• Player care is another area of concern. In May, a player Savy King fell on the pitch, requiring urgent care. On-field play continued, even though players were clearly upset. The players' association called on the NWSL to review their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather guidelines have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner allegedly warned to penalize a club over a dispute in extreme heat procedures.
• Financial rivalry from leagues abroad like the WSL is increasing, attracting some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and country where they made their careers.

Transgender players did not factor into a single one of these issues. And it's unlikely they will, irrespective of whether the proposed changes are implemented.