Former professional footballer Elizabeth Eddy has spoken publicly about the backlash she says followed her decision to speak about sex and gender eligibility in women's football, claiming she was 'disowned and shamed' after arguing that female players should meet biological eligibility requirements.
Eddy, who spent 11 years playing professional football in the United States and overseas, reignited the debate in October 2025 when she published an opinion piece calling on the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to introduce clear rules on who can compete in its women's competition.
The comments led to a public dispute with teammates at Angel City FC, who rejected Eddy's views and said her article contained what they described as 'transphobic and racist' undertones.
What Elizabeth Eddy Said About Women's Football
In her October 2025 New York Post opinion piece, Eddy argued that the NWSL needed a clearly defined eligibility standard.
Among the options she proposed was requiring players to have been born with ovaries. She also suggested genetic testing as another way to determine eligibility. She argued that the league's lack of a clear public policy could create uncertainty around the future of women's football.
Eddy's position placed her firmly in the wider international debate over the eligibility of transgender and intersex athletes in women's sport.
The Backlash From Her Angel City Teammates
The article quickly caused friction inside Angel City FC.
Captain Sarah Gorden and vice-captain Angelina Anderson publicly addressed Eddy's comments. Gorden said the article did not represent the views of the team or its locker room and said teammates had been hurt and upset by what was written.
Gorden also said that, in her view, some of the article's undertones came across as 'transphobic and racist'. Anderson similarly stressed Angel City's commitment to inclusivity and said the club should remain a place for everyone.
Angel City FC separately issued a statement saying that while it respected an individual's right to express an opinion, Eddy's views did not represent the organisation's position. The club reiterated its commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging.
Eddy Says the Fallout Was Personal
In her latest interview with The Telegraph, Eddy has described the experience in deeply personal terms, saying she felt she had been 'disowned and shamed' after speaking out.
The former defender reportedly had close relationships with some of her Angel City teammates before the dispute. The Telegraph reported that Eddy had invited Gorden and goalkeeper Angelina Anderson to her wedding, highlighting how dramatically the situation changed after the publication of her opinion piece.
Eddy has also maintained that disagreement over the issue should not automatically lead to personal attacks. She said that reasonable people could disagree about the subject and argued that there was no need for bullying or name-calling. She also said that her invitations to her teammates remained open, despite the public disagreement.
Who Is Elizabeth Eddy?
Eddy is a former American professional footballer who played primarily as a defender and midfielder.
She began her professional career after playing at the University of Southern California and went on to represent several NWSL clubs, including the Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Houston Dash and Angel City FC. She also spent time playing overseas in Japan, Sweden and Australia.
Her career included three NWSL Championship victories. Angel City described her as a veteran of the league when she joined the club, while her official player records list 98 NWSL appearances and seven league goals across her career.
Eddy's contract with Angel City expired at the end of the 2025 season, with the club listing her among the players who would leave in free agency.
The Wider Debate Over Gender Eligibility in Sport
The disagreement surrounding Eddy reflects a much broader debate across women's sport.
Sports organisations in different countries have taken different approaches to eligibility for transgender and intersex athletes, while governing bodies have continued to debate the role of sex, gender identity, hormones and genetic characteristics in determining eligibility.
Eddy's proposal for the NWSL was therefore part of an ongoing international discussion rather than an isolated issue within one football club. At the same time, her former teammates and Angel City have argued for an inclusive environment for players and rejected the characterisation of Eddy's views as representing the club.
The NWSL's position has also been relevant to the dispute. Commissioner Jessica Berman said in November 2025 that every player currently competing in the league was eligible to do so, while noting that the league did not have a publicly available policy specifically addressing gender eligibility at that time.
Elizabeth Eddy's Controversial Stand
For Eddy, the controversy has continued well beyond the publication of her original article.
The dispute leaves a complicated picture of the debate over women's football eligibility: Eddy continues to defend her call for clearer sex-based standards, while her former teammates have emphasised inclusion and rejected the language and implications they saw in her proposal.
For now, the controversy remains part of the much wider conversation over how women's sport should define eligibility while balancing competitive categories and inclusion.
