On Monday, Banda, who is a cisgender woman, was named to her second FIFPRO World 11, an honor voted on solely by players. In a statement posted the next morning, the league said Banda’s inclusion in the World 11 is “a testament to her extraordinary talent, relentless work ethic, and impact.” The NWSL then defended her, saying, “Any harassment or hateful attacks toward Barbra are unacceptable and have no place in our sport, league or our communities. We stand unequivocally with Barbra and with every NWSL player.”
Banda has again been the target of harassment, partly prompted by fellow NWSL player Elizabeth Eddy’s op-ed published in The New York Post calling for “a clear standard” for the NWSL’s gender eligibility policy. Banda and other players from Africa have received an uptick in harassment following the op-ed’s publication.
The Post used a photo of Banda in the story, captioned that she has “faced harassment from spectators over past gender eligibility issues.” No such eligibility issues have occurred in the NWSL, nor with any other governing body. Banda has never broken any policy, nor been subject to any gender verification tests. When Eddy’s op-ed was shared on social media, Banda was the featured image, with Eddy’s face superimposed on the corner.
The NWSL Players Association issued a statement on Tuesday evening, condemning attacks on its players, as Banda has not been the only one targeted following Eddy’s op-ed.
“We stand firmly with all our members — including, and especially, the African women who have been targeted by divisive and demeaning rhetoric,” the PA’s statement opens. “Every NWSL player was assigned female at birth. Every NWSL player has earned her place in the women’s game, and those whose eligibility has been questioned have already competed on the world’s biggest stages: the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup.”
Both statements faced criticism from fans, who felt they did not go far enough in supporting all NWSL players, nor in naming the attacks as transphobic.
“This week should be about what’s happening on the field,” the PA statement concludes, nodding to this weekend’s NWSL playoffs, “not about those exploiting manufactured controversies for attention and financial gain.”
The Orlando Pride host the Seattle Reign on Friday in the first NWSL quarterfinal match of 2025. Banda will not feature, as she was placed on the season-ending injury list early this year due to an ACL injury.
The Pride put out their own statement expressing support for Banda on Tuesday, focusing primarily on her selection to the FIFPro World 11. Orlando’s sporting director, Haley Carter, has been outspoken in her defense of players such as Banda and fellow Zambian Prisca Chilufya. Chilufya is a former Pride player who moved to Angel City earlier this season.
“Our game doesn’t need gatekeepers. It needs champions and advocates and that means standing for every player who makes it what it is,” Carter posted last month, following Eddy’s op-ed.
On Sunday, Carter posted a photo of herself sporting Chilufya’s jersey, writing, “P, you’re exactly what makes our space special. Wherever your path takes you, whatever kit you wear, know this: we’ve got your back.”
Last week, ahead of their final match of the season, Angel City captain Sarah Gorden publicly refuted Eddy’s column with a prepared statement as part of a team press conference.
“That article does not speak for this team. In this locker room, I’ve had a lot of conversations with my teammates in the past few days, and they are hurt and they are harmed by the article,” Gorden said last Friday. “They are disgusted by some of the things that were said in the article. It’s really important for me to say that. We don’t agree with the things written for a lot of reasons, but mostly the undertones come across as transphobic and racist as well.”
Neither the NWSL nor the PA released statements of support for Gorden, who has also been targeted after her comments were circulated. Gorden and vice captain Angelina Anderson’s comments were used in a Fox News segment, in which a commentator falsely stated that “there are several males in the National Women’s Soccer League.” That commentator specifically named Banda.
Gordon and Anderson’s comments were also shared on Fox alongside an appearance by Eddy on Wednesday morning.
“Reasonable people can disagree on this topic, but there’s no need to go to bullying or name-calling because it doesn’t set a good example for anyone,” Eddy said, before calling once again for the NWSL to require “eligibility testing, specifically on biological gender, to ensure fairness.”
Last year, following the Orlando Pride’s NWSL championship win — where Banda won the NWSL Championship MVP award — the forward was targeted with transphobic and racist attacks after being named the women’s footballer of the year by the BBC, including from author J.K. Rowling. At the time, the NWSL league office did not issue any statement in support of Banda, choosing instead to share the Pride’s statement and additional posts from Carter.
“We are committed to fostering an environment where our athletes are supported and equipped with all the necessary tools to compete and succeed at the highest level,” a spokesperson for the league told The Athletic last year for a story on the harassment Banda faced. “No one should have to endure or be asked to respond to baseless attacks and discrimination.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Orlando Pride, Angel City, NWSL, Women’s Soccer
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