NWSL veteran faces backlash over column

A National Women’s Soccer League club has split after one of its players called on the league to “adopt gender norms” to protect the integrity of the organization and grow the sport.

Elizabeth Eddy’s column appeared in the New York Post last week and she asked, “How can we preserve women’s rights and competitive fairness while fostering meaningful inclusion?”

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Eddy wrote that controversies in swimming and track and field have highlighted that women’s professional soccer lacks standards when it comes to intersex and transgender athletes. She wrote that the NWSL “needs to adopt a clear standard,” adding that only players born with ovaries should be allowed to play, consistent with the standards of the Women’s Super League in the United Kingdom, or that the league should adopt SRY genetic testing, like World Athletics and World Boxing.

“Fairness and inclusion are core American values. Reasonable people can disagree about what boundaries should be set, but avoiding the conversation altogether by excluding diverse viewpoints does not serve us. In fact, we owe it to current and future female athletes to resolve this issue,” the 11-year veteran wrote.

But Eddy’s column did not please his own teammates.

Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson both delivered a scathing rebuke to Eddy.

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Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden (11) kicks the ball against the Chicago Stars during the first half of a match at SeatGeek Stadium on November 2, 2025. (Mélissa Tamez/Imagn Images)

“This article does not speak for this team in this locker room. I’ve had a lot of (conversations) with my teammates over the last few days and they’re hurt and they’re hurt by the article, and also, they’re disgusted by some of the things that were said in the article and it’s really important for me to say that,” Gorden said Friday.

“We disagree with the things written for a multitude of reasons, but many of the nuances also seem transphobic and racist. The article calls for genetic testing on certain players and it contains a photo of a featured African player. It’s very damaging, and to me, it’s inherently racist because singling out this community based on how they look or are different is absolutely a problem. As a mixed-race woman, with a black family, I am devastated by the nuances of this.

Anderson spoke about what she believed the club stood for.

“For me personally, when I think of Los Angeles and Angel City, I think of a place built on inclusion and love for all. That’s what our locker room is, our staff, our fan base. Angel City is a place for everyone. It always will be. That’s the way it’s been since the beginning, that’s the way it’s always going to be. Period,” she said.

Angel City FC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson (19) watches the game during the first half against Racing Louisville FC at Lynn Family Stadium on September 27, 2025. (EM Dash/Images Imagn)

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“I think this situation, there’s an element of timing that makes this feel like another very big challenge that we have to face as a team on top of an already very difficult year. And it’s certainly not the note that we as a group want to end on, and so I just want everyone to know that we’re doing our best in the locker room to maintain respect and belonging on this team and we look forward to ending the season on as positive a note as possible.”

The NWSL also reacted to Eddy’s column. The league told The Athletic it is “committed to working directly with the NWSL Players Association on any changes to our league policies.”