NWSLPA chief defends Barbra Banda after criticism following award win: Explaining the controversy

Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSL Players Association, has defended Barbra Banda after the Orlando Pride forward winning an award attracted criticism from JK Rowling and sections of the British press.

Banda, 24, was named BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year on Tuesday after the Zambian forward helped lead the Orlando Pride to a domestic double this season.

However, Banda has received a barrage of online abuse accusing her of being a “man” and “cheating” other female athletes out of the prize.

The claims stem from reports two years ago that the Zambian Football Federation (FAZ) withdrew Banda from its squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco for “medical reasons” amid reports of a gender verification test. FIFA and CAF confirmed last year that she was not disqualified from participation in any of their competitions while Orlando Pride insists there has never been any gender verification test done.

However, the Harry Potter series author claimed the BBC was “spitting in women’s faces” by awarding the title to Banda, who scored 13 goals in the Pride’s regular season and four in the playoffs as she was named the NWSL’s most valuable player.

Rowling wrote on X: “Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women’s faces.”

Burke responded to Rowling’s post, writing: “The lowest form of discourse is personal insult cloaked with racism and lies, on X no less. Barbra Banda is a proud member of NWSLPA. She is the best of us. Just so we’re clear, JK Rowling: you come for her, you come for all of us. Me first. Let’s go.”

Banda’s accolade has made her a lightning rod again for the ongoing debate around gender testing and trans athletes in women’s sport.

The NWSL does not conduct any mandatory gender testing. Its policies, published in 2021, state that: “People designated female at birth, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression, are eligible to compete in the NWSL, subject to the guidelines herein and other eligibility criteria of the NWSL.” This criteria includes demonstrating testosterone levels in line with the “typical limits of women athletes”.

The policies define gender identity as a “core, hard-wired component of a person’s identity … that may or may not match the gender that the person was assigned at birth.” Gender expression is defined as “how a person expresses their gender through outward presentation and behaviour” and “is not necessarily an indication of gender identity, assigned gender, or sexual orientation.”

What is the award that Banda has won?

Banda was named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2024. The award was first given out by the British public broadcaster in 2015 when Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala won.

In subsequent years Norway forward Ada Hegerberg and England full-back Lucy Bronze have both won the award twice, while other players to have prevailed include Mary Earps, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema.

The award is decided by a public vote, chosen from a five-name shortlist announced by the BBC in October. The shortlist was selected by a panel of experts, including ‘coaches, players, administrators and non-BBC journalists.’

The other names on the shortlist were Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen, as well as Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma of the United States. Spain midfielder and Ballon d’Or holder Bonmati came second, with Portland Thorns forward Smith in third. The BBC did not announce what percentage of the vote each player won.

What happened at AFCON 2022?

Banda, who at that stage was playing in China for Shanghai Shengli, was surprisingly left out of the Zambia squad for the 2022 Women’s AFCON in Morocco, along with midfielder Racheal Kundananji and two other players.

Initially, it was simply announced that she had been omitted for “medical reasons”, but Andrew Kamanga, the president of the FAZ, later told the BBC that she had failed tests related to CAF’s gender eligibility rules: “All the players had to undergo gender verification, a CAF requirement, and unfortunately she did not meet the criteria set by CAF,” he said.

However, the exact nature of the tests was never made public. It was reported that they related to elevated levels of testosterone but, at the time, FAZ would not confirm to or any other media organisation what those tests were, or indeed if any tests were even taken.

At the time it was reported that CAF had ‘banned’ Banda and the other players, but CAF made it clear that they had not ruled either way on their eligibility. Confusingly, FAZ made representations to CAF, essentially ‘appealing’ Banda’s exclusion from the tournament, but CAF said that, since Zambia had not selected her and hadn’t provided them with any details of the apparent tests conducted, there was nothing to appeal.

Banda had played at and starred in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but a similar situation had occurred at the 2018 edition of AFCON, when she was selected in the Zambia squad but prevented from playing for similar reasons. As in 2022, the details of what happened in 2018 remain unclear.

Zambia reached the semifinals of the 2022 tournament for the first time in their history, without Banda and Kundananji, where they lost to eventual winners South Africa.

What happened next?

FAZ official Blackwell Siwale told ESPN at the time that Banda was offered medication to lower her testosterone levels but refused to take it while Orlando says she has never taken, or even been offered, any such medication. At the time, FAZ refused to confirm to whether Banda had done so or not.

What is clear is that Banda has since competed in several different competitions, run by different sporting bodies.

She represented Zambia at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and, perhaps crucially as it has only been under CAF’s jurisdiction that there have been problems before, in the qualifiers for the next edition of AFCON, to be held in Morocco in the summer of 2025.

Banda played in China for Shanghai Shengli until March 2024, and since has played in the NWSL for Orlando Pride, for whom she was named the MVP of the league’s Championship game, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit.

What have others said?

Orlando Pride said in a statement: “We are incredibly proud that Barbra has been voted as the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, one of many outstanding achievements she has accomplished during this historic 2024 season.

“This accolade – one chosen exclusively by soccer fans from around the globe – is a testament to the impact she has had on the women’s game, both on the field and off.”

The club added: “Barbra is an incredible role model and advocate for soccer in Africa, and we have seen firsthand the influence that her achievements and philanthropy have had on young girls in Zambia, as well as the instant impact she has made on Orlando’s soccer community.”

The NWSLPA added in their own statement: “This honor celebrates her global impact as a world-class footballer, and illuminates the immeasurable mark she has had on women’s soccer, unquestionably deserving of global recognition.

“As the NWSLPA, we represent the interests of the players in every regard. Today, we reflect that commitment in celebrating Barbra’s accomplishments and shining a light on a player who embodies the future of this sport.

“Banda has inspired girls and women globally, in her home country of Zambia, and us personally. We are proud to claim Barbra as one of our own. Barbra, as you continue to soar, we will be there beside you, cheering you on and celebrating your greatness.”

Former USWNT captain Megan Rapinoe also congratulated Banda before sending a message to her critics.

“You’ve thrilled, entertained and inspired us, and the world, all year long,” she posted on Instagram. “This is so deserved as is every bit of your success. You stand so much taller than the tiny people trying to tear you down.

“Proud as hell that you’re a women’s footballer, pushing the games to new-heights. We love you Babs. And to all the hateful little people out there hate hate hatin, HOP TF OFF, yall are sad.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Orlando Pride, NWSL, UK Women's Football

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