The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Orlando Pride, Gotham FC, and the league’s players’ association have united in denouncing the racist and transphobic abuse directed at Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda during a recent match.
The abuse reportedly occurred at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, during Orlando’s away game against Gotham FC. The vile remarks were brought to public attention after a season-ticket holder flagged the behaviour in an online forum.
In a statement released on Monday (24 March), the NWSL strongly condemned the actions of fans involved. “We are united in our message: this behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in our league or in our stadiums,” said a league spokesperson.
The NWSL confirmed it would be working closely with Gotham FC to investigate the incident and pursue disciplinary action. “Barbra Banda is an exceptional player and person, and the NWSL is immensely proud to support her as a member of our league,” the spokesperson added.
Banda, a cisgender woman who was assigned female at birth and does not identify as transgender, has previously faced similar discriminatory attacks. In 2022, she was controversially excluded from Zambia’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, reportedly due to high testosterone levels. Although the Zambian Football Association claimed she had failed a gender-verification test, FIFA later confirmed her eligibility to compete in the Women’s World Cup.
Despite not being transgender, Banda has frequently been subjected to misgendering and malicious speculation online—a reflection of the broader issue of prejudice faced by high-performing women athletes.
Orlando Pride issued their own statement supporting Banda, calling her “an outstanding role model and an influential advocate for soccer both in Africa and here in the United States.” The club emphasised its intent to “take proper action to hold individuals accountable for violating the league’s standards.”
Gotham FC, whose home ground hosted the match, confirmed it was investigating the reports and would act in accordance with the NWSL fan code of conduct.
Meanwhile, the NWSL Players Association added its voice to the chorus of condemnation. A spokesperson labelled the abuse as “hateful behaviour,” stressing that Banda is a “generational talent” who “deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
