Former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe has questioned the underlying motives of movements seeking to restrict transgender inclusion in girls’ and women’s sports, particularly following an op-ed by Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy. The op-ed, which called for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to adopt clear gender standards with different means of testing, sparked significant debate. Rapinoe reacted to Eddy’s column on her podcast with Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird, expressing skepticism about whether these efforts genuinely aimed to protect women’s sports or were driven by other factors.
Rapinoe took issue with the New York Post’s use of a photo of Orlando Pride player Barbra Banda in the op-ed, despite Banda being excluded from the Zambian national team due to not meeting sex eligibility criteria. This issue was raised during the ‘A Touch More’ podcast, where she questioned the sincerity of the Save Women’s Sports movement, suggesting that the rhetoric may be more about fear than genuine protection of women’s sports. She remarked, “Are we really protecting women in sports, or are we doing this just thinly veiled, ‘Oh my god, we’re scared, and we have to protect women in sports?’”
Rapinoe also drew parallels between the experiences of transgender individuals and that of former U.S. men’s soccer star Landon Donovan, who recently discussed his new hairpiece in The Athletic. She highlighted the importance of allowing individuals to live authentically, regardless of their gender identity, and emphasized how vital it is for people to exist in their own skin and bodies in a way that feels comfortable and empowering. Her comments underscore the broader conversation surrounding transgender rights and the importance of personal identity in advocacy efforts.
The op-ed by Elizabeth Eddy and Rapinoe’s reaction have generated mixed reactions, with some supporting the move to protect women’s sports and others condemning it as exclusionary. The debate continues to spark discussions about the intersection of sports, identity, and rights, reflecting the complex nature of these issues in contemporary society.