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 standards” to protect the integrity of the organization and grow the sport.

Elizabeth Eddy’s column appeared in the New York Post last week, asking, “How do we preserve women’s rights and competitive justice while promoting meaningful inclusion?”

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Eddy wrote that controversies in swimming and track and field have shed light on women’s professional soccer’s lack of 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, following the standard of the Women’s Super League in the United Kingdom, or the league should adopt an SRY gene test, like 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.

But Eddy’s column did not go down well with her own teammates.

Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson both offered a sharp rebuke of 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 game at SeatGeek Stadium on Nov. 2, 2025. (Melissa Tamez/Imagn Images)

“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 that are written for a multitude of reasons, but for the most part the undertones also come off as transphobic and racist. The article calls for genetic testing of certain players and it has a photo of an African player as the headline. It’s very damaging and to me it’s inherently racist because it’s a whole other issue because it’s an issue with them or being a woman. a black family, I’m devastated by the undertones of this article.

Anderson spoke about what she believed the club stood for.

“For me personally, when I think of LA, and I think of Angel City, I 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 everybody. It always will be. It’s been that way from the beginning, that’s how it always will be,” Period.

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/Imagn images)

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“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.”

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