Women’s soccer player talks backlash from calling on NWSL to adopt clear gender protocols
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National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) veteran Elizabeth Eddy said Wednesday that her teammates were still invited to her wedding, even though they harshly rebuked her following a column in which she called for the organization to adopt open gender standards.
The Angel City FC midfielder wrote: New York Post“The NWSL should adopt a clear standard. One option is for all players to be born with ovaries, as required by the FA. Another option is an SRY gene test such as that implemented in World Athletics and World Boxing.”
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Angel City FC’s Elizabeth Eddy poses for a portrait on February 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
But teammate Sarah Gorden said her remarks carried a “transphobic and racist” tone. Angelina Anderson said the Angel City locker room “has a place for everyone,” regardless of their corner.
Eddy appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” and talked about the backlash from them.
“Reasonable people may disagree on this issue, but there is no need for bullying or name-calling because it doesn’t set a good example for anyone,” Eddy said. “But also, these teammates are my friends and I’ve known them for a very long time. They were even invited to my wedding and the invitation is still valid.
“They said ‘Yes’.” I hope they come. “I think it’s very important to extend the olive branch because at the end of the day, we’re all human and it’s very important to be on the same page and choose to work together.”
FEMALE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER FACES REBELLATIONS FROM TEAMMATES AFTER CALLING FOR THE LEAGUE TO ADOPTE CLEAR GENDER STANDARDS
Angel City FC’s Elizabeth Eddy #44 arrives at the stadium prior to the NWSL match between Angel City FC and Bay FC at BMO Stadium on September 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/NWSL via Getty Images)
Eddy said it was “hard to tell” whether her teammates understood the potential danger of men playing against women in women’s sports.
“I would say it’s really difficult in the world of professional sports because it’s a really difficult thing to talk about openly because think about it, as a professional athlete your mentality is: ‘This is what I’ve worked for my whole life. I’m going to do whatever it takes, no matter what the cost.’ And the flip side of that is, ‘Even if I stay silent. Even if I go along to get by. “I’m ready to do this to play,” he said.
“I think at the end of the day, a lot of my teammates and peers agree with what I’m trying to share. They want to play more than they want to talk, and I understand that. So there’s a lot of fear because it comes at a very high cost.”
Eddy said he received support from players around the league after posting his comment.
“What I’ve found in general is that it’s an 80/20 thing,” he said. “A large part of the country wants women’s sports to be for women. Again, I realized that most of my teammates have a hard time speaking out if they believe that. But the bigger picture is that players need to make decisions and work together.”
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“What I’ve also noticed is that a lot of players around the league have messaged me and reached out to me to say they agree but are afraid to speak out. So to your point, it’s a really difficult scenario for the people who are in it. But the people out there, the overwhelming majority, support this whole concept.”
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