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The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) issued a statement on Tuesday addressing a sudden controversy involving a player who previously failed a genetic test.
The statement defended Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, who was ruled ineligible to compete for Zambia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier after a test showed Banda’s natural testosterone levels were above those allowed by the Confederation of African Football.
The statement also comes after Angel City FC’s Elizabeth Eddy published a story in the New York Post last week calling for the NWSL to adopt a stricter gender eligibility policy.
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Barbra Banda of Zambia celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal from the penalty spot during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
“Barbra Banda is a top player in the NWSL. Barbra’s selection to the FIFPRO World XI, an accolade voted solely by her peers from across the global game, is a testament to her extraordinary talent, relentless work ethic and impact on our sport and league,” the statement said.
“Her contributions to Orlando Pride and the NWSL have been transformative. Any harassment or hateful attacks against Barbra are unacceptable and have no place in our sport, league or community. We stand unequivocally with Barbra and with every NWSL player.”
Meanwhile, the Orlando Pride issued a similar statement in defense of Banda around the same time as the NWSL’s Tuesday.
“Barbra Banda is an outstanding teammate, player and role model, and we are proud to have her represent the Orlando Pride, our fans and our community. Both in Orlando and on the national stage, Barbra continues to shine, including most recently being named to her second consecutive FIFPRO World 11, an award selected exclusively by her peers around the globe,” the team said.
“We look forward to continuing to celebrate Barbra and her future accomplishments and to supporting her journey as one of the many incredible athletes in our league.”
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The remarks prompted mixed reactions on social media.
Eddy’s op-ed sparked debate among fans and even drew rebuke from her teammates.
Eddy argued in the article that the NWSL “needs to adopt a clear standard”, adding that only players “born with ovaries” should be allowed to play to the standard in the Women’s Super League in the United Kingdom, otherwise the league should adopt a SRY gene testsuch as World Athletics and World Boxing.
“Fairness and inclusion are core American values. Reasonable people can disagree about where to draw the line, but avoiding the conversation entirely by shutting out different viewpoints doesn’t serve us. In fact, we owe it to current and future female athletes to address this,” the 11-year veteran wrote.
Eddy’s Angel City FC teammates, Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson, addressed the statement at a press conference over the weekend.
“That article doesn’t speak for this team in this locker room. I’ve had a lot of (conversations) with my teammates in the last couple of 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 don’t agree with the things written for a multitude of reasons, but for the most part the undertones also come across as transphobic and racist. The article calls for genetic testing on certain players and it has a photo of an African player as a headline. It’s very harmful 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 woman, with a black family, I am heartbroken by the undertones of this article.”
Anderson spoke about what she believed the club stood for.
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Barbra Banda of the Orlando Pride looks on during the NWSL match between the Portland Thorns and the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on May 3, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)
“For me personally, when I think of LA and I think of Angel CityI think of a place that was founded on inclusivity and love for all people – that’s what our locker room is, that’s what our staff is, that’s what our fan base is. Angel City is a place for everyone. It always will be. So it was from the beginning, so it will always be. Period,” she said.
“I think this situation, there’s an element of timing in it, where it feels like another really big challenge that we’re going to have to go through as a team on top of an already really challenging year. And that’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 the respect and belonging of this team, and we’re not looking forward to as positive a season as possible.”
