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During late October, ACFC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made 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, making the organization's future stance undecided.

The next day, her writing was republished completely by another media outlet, giving it wider exposure.

“I'm concerned that lacking clear guidelines about the league's intended participants, it will sacrifice its character and its growth,” stated Eddy.

Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on transgender players from the league to preserve “the integrity of women's sports.”

Examining the Real Threat

It remains uncertain how Eddy thinks the league's integrity has been damaged—whether under its previous guidelines that allowed transgender players or its current absence of policy. The league, now in its thirteenth year, has established a distinct brand. It's extremely contested, commercially and culturally powerful, and an integral part of the worldwide women's soccer scene.

The league's momentum seems mostly strong—viewership have grown each year, and expansion to 16 teams is scheduled for the coming years.

Examining the Evidence

Eddy references the English FA's recent ban on transgender athletes as a positive example. Yet, that ban is believed to affect only 20 or so amateur participants out of millions registered athletes. The effect in the United States would likely be equally negligible.

Two years ago, when the league's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were two transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. They have both departed, and no out trans players presently compete in the league. On the current season's opening weekend, the NWSL welcomed its thousandth player. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of more than a thousand in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Concerns and Real Damage

The article is written as if there is a stream of transgender athletes ready to dominate the league imminently. There is no such thing. At present, there are no openly transgender players playing at a elite level in the United States. Federal legislation expressly bans transgender athletes from participating in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that transgender players have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

Without of out trans people, discriminatory behavior have persisted along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded a top honor, she experienced a wave of digital harassment. The NWSL was painfully slow in defending their key athlete. Likewise, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced comparable mistreatment.

“That article does not speak for this team in this locker room,” team leader Sarah Gorden informed reporters. “We don't agree with the content for a plethora of causes, but mostly the implications come across as transphobic and racist as well.”

Additional Pressing Issues Confronting the NWSL

Regardless if one were to ignore all that and think that trans inclusion represents a genuine issue for the league, it's difficult to see how it would outrank multiple of other issues that have truly blunted the league's momentum and affected its reputation.

• Employment standards for professionals remain a problem. Several ex- club employees are taking legal action against the team and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, unwanted advances, and failure to prevent prejudice.
• Player care is a further issue. In May, Angel City defender Savy King fell on the field, requiring emergency medical treatment. On-field play resumed, even though teammates were visibly upset. The NWSLPA called on the league to revisit their health procedures.
• Extreme weather protocols have also been questioned. During a broadcast match, the NWSL commissioner reportedly warned to penalize a team over a disagreement in hot weather policies.
• Financial rivalry from European leagues like the WSL is growing, luring top talent 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, irrespective of whether the proposed changes are implemented.