Pro Soccer Player Responds To Teammates Who Shamed Her For Standing Up For Women

Elizabeth Eddy said the National Women’s Soccer League should be for women.

That makes sense, right? A women’s league for women?

Well, not to her teammates. They couldn’t stand it, and publicly slammed Eddy as transphobic. Eddy waited a few days before she responded.

“Responsible people can disagree on this topic, but there is no need to go to bullying and name calling,” Eddy said in an interview with Fox News. “It doesn’t set a good example for anyone.”

Eddy didn’t call her teammates vile names in response to their character-slandering rhetoric.

“These teammates are my friends,” Eddy said. “In fact they’ve been invited to my wedding…I hope they come.”

Her captains, Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson, said the team was disgusted with Eddy for saying the NWSL needs stricter gender guidelines.

Eddy still didn’t throw a punch back.

“I think it’s super important to offer an olive branch,” Eddy said. “At the end of the day we’re all humans.”

And she said she silently has the support of her teammates and other athletes.

“Speaking out is a really difficult thing to do,” Eddy said. “Think about it, the mindset as a pro athlete is I’ve worked my entire life for this i’ll do anything it takes whatever the cost. The flip side of that is even if I stay silent, even if I go along to get along I’m willing to do that to play.”

She said she understands why players want to play more than they want to speak up, admitting though, she knows most people in America want women’s sports to be for women.

“I’ve come to realize it’s an 80-20 issue.”

Eddy called for players, coaches, politicians to figure out how to make sure the NWSL continues to flourish for women.

Earlier this year World Athletics implemented SRY testing for any female athlete wishing to compete in that category at The World Championships. Those women are protected, now Eddy wants the same for a league she’s invested years in.

Eddy helped grow the NWSL from YouTube streaming deal to a $240 million TV contract.

The Angel FC Defender has spent more than a decade in the NWSL. As mentioned in her op-ed, Eddy said the best way to honor women is to keep the NWSL for women.

Whatever names her teammates want to call her just roll off her shoulder. Eddy is fighting for something bigger than herself.

“I hope to have many daughters and for them looking forward, that’s the reason I decided this is worth it,” Eddy said.