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On the end of October, Angel City FC athlete Elizabeth Eddy made her initial social media statement in almost two years. In it, she addressed news that the National Women's Soccer League had discreetly dropped its policy of inclusion for transgender and intersex athletes, leaving the league's future stance unclear.

The following day, her opinion piece was shared in full by a different publication, giving it wider exposure.

“I'm concerned that without clarity about who the league is for, it will lose its identity and its growth,” Eddy wrote.

Her piece broadly advocated for a prohibition on trans athletes from the NWSL to preserve “the integrity of women's sports.”

Questioning the Actual Threat

It remains uncertain how Eddy thinks the league's integrity has been harmed—either under its previous guidelines that permitted trans athletes or its present absence of policy. The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear brand. It's highly competitive, commercially and culturally powerful, and an essential part of the global female football scene.

The league's momentum seems mostly strong—viewership have increased every season, and growth to sixteen clubs is scheduled for the coming years.

Analyzing the Data

Eddy references the Football Association's new prohibition on transgender athletes as a positive example. However, that ban is believed to affect only 20 or so amateur players out of millions soccer players. The effect in the United States would likely be similarly negligible.

Two years ago, when the NWSL's trans inclusion policy was implemented, there were two transgender athletes: one player and Kumi Yokoyama. Both have since left, and no openly transgender athletes presently play in the NWSL. On the current season's opening weekend, the league celebrated its 1,000th participant. That's just two openly transgender individuals out of over 1,000 in the NWSL's existence.

Baseless Concerns and Actual Damage

Eddy's piece is framed as if there is a pipeline of transgender athletes set to take over the league at a moment's notice. There is no such thing. There are currently no openly transgender players playing at a elite level in the United States. National laws expressly bans trans players from competing in NCAA college soccer. Moreover, multiple scientifically reviewed research have shown that trans athletes have no inherent physical edge over cis athletes.

Without of openly transgender individuals, transphobic attacks have persisted along ethnic divisions. When a club's Barbra Banda was awarded player of the year, she faced a surge of digital harassment. The NWSL was painfully slow in defending their star player. Similarly, another team's Temwa Chawinga and her sister faced comparable abuse.

“That article does not represent for this team in our dressing 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 discriminatory against trans people and prejudiced as well.”

Other Pressing Issues Facing the League

Even if one were to overlook these points and believe that including transgender athletes represents a real problem for the NWSL, it's hard to see how it would outrank any number of different challenges that have actually hindered the growth and affected its reputation.

• Working conditions for professionals remain a problem. Several ex- San Diego Wave employees are taking legal action against the team and the NWSL, alleging racial and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent discrimination.
• Player care is a further issue. In May, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the pitch, requiring urgent care. The match continued, despite teammates were visibly distraught. The players' association called on the league to review their medical protocols.
• Extreme weather guidelines have additionally been challenged. During a broadcast match, the league head reportedly warned to fine a team over a disagreement in extreme heat procedures.
• Economic rivalry from leagues abroad like the Women's Super League is increasing, attracting some of the NWSL's best players away from the league and country where they built their professional lives.

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