Ex-NWSL Player Claims League Pressured Athletes on Political Stances

Former National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) player Elizabeth Eddy has spoken out about a league culture she believes pressured athletes to publicly endorse political messages they may not privately support. Eddy, who retired earlier this year after an 11-year professional career, told OutKick that this pressure extended from team environments to public-facing events, creating a difficult choice for players.

Eddy described instances where players felt obligated to wear specific shirts or apparel representing causes. "There was a lot of times where that was like the situation where you either wear it, wear a sweatshirt over it, or you just flat out say, ‘I’m not wearing this,’" she recalled. She noted that refusing to wear such items could lead to negative responses from teammates and coaches, affecting team dynamics and potentially a player's career.

"And then the repercussions of saying you’re not going to wear it on different teams in different political or social causes have different, I would say, responses and none of them are great," Eddy stated. She characterized the league's approach to dissent as an expectation to "re-educate yourself" when questioning a particular message or cause.

Eddy, who played for multiple NWSL teams including the Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, Sky Blue/Gotham, Houston Dash, and Angel City FC, cited Angel City's "Immigrant City Football Club" campaign in June 2025 as an example. While she did not have to wear the shirt for that specific game, choosing to watch from the stands, she suggested that players preparing for competition might view questioning a message as a distraction.

"Most girls, I don’t really think believe in a lot of the stuff that they’re getting told to wear, and then like publicly parade around like they’re supporters of it," Eddy said.

She also mentioned teammates wearing shirts in support of transgender rights, recalling that the messaging sometimes included phrases like "protect trans kids." While unsure if wearing these shirts was mandated, Eddy said her personal strategy would have been to wear a sweatshirt over the apparel if she had been playing and felt uncomfortable.

Eddy pointed to former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe as a significant influence on the league's political culture. "Significantly, a lot," Eddy said when asked about Rapinoe's impact. She expressed respect for Rapinoe's outspokenness but argued that over time, this consistent public stance from a prominent figure shifted the group's general direction, leaving less room for opposing viewpoints.

"And then eventually that speaking over and over again, the group starts just going that way in the sense of like no one else is speaking," Eddy observed.

The NWSL's collective bargaining agreement does include a provision that prohibits the league and teams from compelling participation in appearances that require support for messaging conflicting with a player's sincerely held beliefs. Eddy herself was part of the NWSL Players Association bargaining committee that helped reach the 2024 agreement.

However, Eddy's concern lies in the informal pressures and the impact on team relationships, which she believes can lead players to compromise their beliefs over time.

Her comments follow a recent incident at a Portland Thorns game on Oct. 23, where spectators displaying a "Save Women’s Sports" banner were reportedly confronted by other fans and later removed by security. Eddy expressed dismay over the confrontation, stating she was "really, really disheartened."

She encouraged individuals with similar views to voice their opinions and consider their consumer choices. "It’s uncomfortable and it’s hard and it’s messy, but I think it’s the right thing to do," Eddy said regarding open discussion of disagreements.

The NWSL provided a statement to OutKick, stating, "The NWSL does not comment on statements by former players."