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National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) released a statement Tuesday addressing the sudden controversy surrounding a player who previously failed a genetic test.
Application protected Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda, who was ruled ineligible to play for Zambia in 2022 World Cup qualifying after a test showed Banda's natural testosterone levels were higher than those allowed by the Confederation of African Football.
The announcement also comes after Angel City's Elizabeth Eddy published an op-ed in the New York Post last week calling for the NWSL to adopt stricter gender equality policies.
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Barbra Banda of Zambia celebrates scoring the team's second goal from the penalty spot during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand Group C match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
“Barbra Banda is the best player in the NWSL. “Barbra's selection to the FIFPRO World XI, an award voted for solely by her peers around the world, is a testament to her extraordinary talent, tireless work ethic and impact on our sport and league,” the statement said.
“Her contributions to the Orlando Pride and the NWSL have been transformative. Any harassment or hateful attacks against Barbra are unacceptable and have no place in our sport, league or communities. We unequivocally support Barbra and every NWSL player.”
Meanwhile, Orlando Pride issued a similar statement defending Banda around the same time as the NWSL on Tuesday.
“Barbra Banda is an excellent teammate, player and role model, and we are proud to have her represent Orlando Pride, our fans and our community. Both in Orlando and on the national stage, Barbra continues to shine, including most recently being named to her second consecutive FIFPRO World 11, an award chosen exclusively by her peers from around the world,” the team said.
“We look forward to continuing to celebrate Barbra and her future accolades, as well as supporting her journey as one of the many incredible athletes in our league.”
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The statements caused mixed reactions on social networks.
Eddie's post sparked controversy among fans and even drew rebukes from her teammates.
Eddie argued in the article that the NWSL “must adopt a clear standard”, adding that only players “born with ovaries” should be allowed to play, following the standard of the Women's Super League in the United Kingdom, or the league should adopt SRY gene testlike World Athletics and World Boxing.
“Fairness and inclusion are core American values. Reasonable people can disagree about where to draw the line, but avoiding the conversation entirely by excluding different viewpoints doesn't help us. In fact, we owe it to current and future female athletes to solve this problem,” the 11-year veteran wrote.
Eddie's Angel City teammates Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson spoke at a press conference over the weekend.
“This article is not about this team in this locker room. I've had a lot of conversations with my teammates over the last few days and they were hurt and hurt by the article and they are disgusted by some of the things that were said in the article and it's very important for me to say that,” Gorden said Friday.
“We disagree with what was written for a variety of reasons, but in most cases the subtext also seems transphobic and racist. Article requires genetic testing about certain players, and in the title there is a photo of an African player. This is very harmful and to me it is inherently racist because singling out this community based on how they look or are different from others is an absolute problem. As a mixed-race Black woman, I am devastated by the implications of this article.”
Anderson spoke about what she thinks the club is all about.
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Barbra Banda of the Orlando Pride watches the NWSL match between the Portland Thorns and the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on May 3, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)
“For me personally, when I think about Los Angeles and I think about City of AngelsI think of a place that was founded on inclusivity and love for all people – our locker room, our staff, our fans. The City of Angels is a place for everyone. It will always be like this. It was so from the very beginning, and it will always be so. Period,” she said.
“I think there's an element of timing in this situation where it feels like another really big test that we have to go through as a team on top of what's already been a very difficult year. And that's definitely not the note that we as a group want to end on, and so I just want everyone to know that we're doing everything we can in the locker room to maintain respect and belonging for this team, and we're looking forward to ending the season on as positive a note as possible.”
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