Overview
- The NWSL and the Orlando Pride issued statements praising Barbra Banda and condemning harassment after a Fox News guest wrongly called the Orlando forward "a male."
- Angel City FC captains Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson publicly rebuked teammate Elizabeth Eddy’s New York Post op-ed, calling its undertones transphobic and racist and criticizing the use of Banda’s photo with calls for genetic testing.
- Eddy’s piece urged the league to set explicit eligibility rules, proposing either limiting players to those born with ovaries or requiring an SRY gene test, citing policies used by other sports bodies.
- A league spokesperson said any changes to NWSL policy will be developed with the NWSL Players Association, as the league currently lacks a clear, updated rule on transgender or intersex eligibility.
- Coverage notes there are no openly transgender players in the NWSL, while Banda, a recent FIFPRO World XI honoree, has previously faced scrutiny tied to gender-verification controversies and online abuse.