Former USWNT standout Megan Rapinoe voiced her support for Barbra Banda after the BBC named Banda its Women's Footballer of the Year. This recognition comes despite Banda's withdrawal from the Zambian team at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations due to unmet sex eligibility criteria, as reported by the BBC. Banda has since competed in the Paris Olympics and become a key player for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL, where she is the second-highest scorer.
Megan Rapinoe at the women's gold medal game between France and the U.S. at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 11, 2024. (Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Banda's award comes as the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports continues to spark debate. Rapinoe defended Banda on her Instagram Stories (now expired), praising Banda's performance and criticizing those questioning her eligibility. In her post, Rapinoe stated that Banda's success was well-deserved and that she stood "taller than the tiny people trying to tear you down."
Barbra Banda of Zambia celebrates after scoring against Costa Rica during the FIFA Women's World Cup at Waikato Stadium on July 31, 2023, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Banda's 2024 season with the Pride marked her first in the league. She scored 13 goals in 22 games, including the winning goal in the NWSL Championship, a historic first for Orlando. Rapinoe, a long-time advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and transgender inclusion in sports, has previously stated her support for transgender women on the USWNT. In a 2023 interview with Time magazine, she emphasized her belief that trans women are women and challenged the notion that they are taking spots away from cisgender women athletes.
Megan Rapinoe of Team United States during the match against Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. (Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
