The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is at the center of growing political scrutiny from conservative groups after it was revealed that, since 2022, it has had no official policy regarding transgender athlete participation. The regulation established in 2021, which allowed the inclusion of trans women in the league under certain hormonal conditions, was abandoned following the arrival of Commissioner Jessica Berman, although its removal had not been publicly disclosed until now.

The situation arises in a tense political and legal climate in the United States, where the Supreme Court is preparing to hear two key cases this fall regarding bans on trans women in sports. Added to this is the regulatory gap within the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), which lacks a policy for transgender players in its national teams. The absence of clear guidelines has opened the door to intense campaigns from organizations such as the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), which advocate for the exclusion of trans women from female sports.

The absence of regulation fuels a conservative offensive

Since 2022, the NWSL has operated without a public policy on trans inclusion, generating growing uncertainty around the future participation of athletes like Quinn or Kumi Yokoyama, who previously played in the league and identify as transgender. Meanwhile, NWSL spokespersons have avoided explaining why the 2021 policy was removed or whether it will be replaced. This institutional silence has been exploited by groups like the IWF, which claim to be ready to act if a trans athlete appears in the league, replicating strategies that have already proven previously successful in other sports.

Beth Parlato, legal advisor to the IWF, stated that they are willing to assist women’s soccer authorities in establishing regulations that ban the participation of trans women. The organization, which has already influenced the approval of similar laws in 28 states, now seeks to expand its federal impact. For the transgender community, however, this scenario represents a concrete threat: not only due to the loss of competitive spaces, but also because of the growing social and political hostility. “They see us as disposable,” warned a trans advocate who requested anonymity for safety reasons.