Angel City FC, a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club, is facing internal backlash after veteran midfielder Elizabeth Eddy publicly urged the league to adopt gender standards to protect the integrity of women’s sports. The controversy erupted following Eddy’s op-ed in the New York Post, where she proposed biological criteria for league eligibility.
In the piece, Eddy questioned how to balance fairness and inclusion, asking, “How do we preserve women’s rights and competitive fairness while fostering meaningful inclusion?” She proposed that the NWSL adopt clear biological criteria such as requiring all players to be born with ovaries or pass an SRY gene test, as used in World Athletics and World Boxing.
Her remarks sparked sharp criticism from within her own locker room. Teammates Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson denounced the article during a team press conference, calling the proposals harmful, transphobic, and even racist. Gorden referenced a photo of an African player used in the article, alleging it contributed to racist “undertones.”
“That article does not speak for this team in this locker room,” Gorden said, adding that many players were “hurt and harmed” by Eddy’s views. Anderson echoed the sentiment, saying Angel City and Los Angeles were “founded upon inclusivity and love for all people.”
Eddy’s defenders argue that raising concerns about competitive fairness for biological women in sports is not hateful, but necessary. Her proposal comes amid growing debate over the participation of transgender-identifying males in female sports leagues—a conversation that continues to intensify across the globe.
The NWSL responded by stating that it is “committed to working directly with the NWSL Players Association on any changes to our league policies.” So far, the league has not announced any formal policy revisions on the matter.
The incident has left the Angel City FC locker room divided, with some players prioritizing inclusion above all, while others, like Eddy, believe the league must address biological differences to preserve women’s athletics. The divide reflects a broader cultural and political rift playing out in sports, as institutions grapple with how to define gender in competition.
