"I'm concerned that without clarity about who the league is for, it will lose its identity and its momentum, Eddy wrote in the piece, which broadly advocated for a ban on trans athletes from the NWSL, to protect the integrity of women's sports so the league does not lose its identity and its momentum. It's unclear how Eddy thinks the NWSL's integrity has been harmed either under its former policy that allowed trans athletes in the league, or its current lack of one."
"The league, now in its 13th season, has developed a clear identity. It's highly competitive. It's commercially and culturally powerful. It's, well, an integral part of the global women's soccer scene. The league's momentum appears to be largely fine, too to pick just two data points, viewership has grown every season, and in 2026 the league will expand to 16 teams, nearly doubling its size in the last five years."
The NWSL quietly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the league's future stance undecided. Calls have arisen to ban trans athletes to protect the perceived integrity of women's sports. The league remains commercially and competitively strong, with viewership growing each season and expansion to 16 teams in 2026. England's FA ban is believed to affect about 20 grassroots players out of 5.5 million. Since 2021 two trans players appeared in the league; both have left and no out trans players currently play, representing two out of more than 1,000 players in league history.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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