A male team that included retired and guest players decisively defeated a female team that included former members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team this week, highlighting the wider debate over biological males competing in girls’ and women’s sports leagues.
The women’s team played Wrexham AFC, a Welsh team. The competition was part of “The Tournament,” which pitted seven men against seven women for a $1 million prize.
The competition proved difficult for the women’s team, as the male team cinched seven goals in the first half.
The game was finished due to a mercy rule after the men’s team scored its 12th goal right after 40 minutes of play.
Despite the final score, the members of the women’s team held their composure, and goalkeeper Lindsey Harris said the team was “being bold and being brave.”
“Here we have two amazing products that American soccer fans are getting behind,” she said. “It’s just a ton of fun and it’s brought all of us together.”
In the three games played by the women’s team, it scored one goal, losing all of the matches by a collective score of 24-1.
A men's soccer team from the UK destroyed a US women's soccer team 12—0, showing the advantage that male athletes have over their female counterparts. | @CarolineDowney_ https://t.co/sj22nW1LLB
— National Review (@NRO) June 7, 2023
The lopsided score in the men-versus-women match echoes a wider concern about transgender individuals playing in high school and college sports. Biological males have demonstrated a significant advantage over girls and women in different events.
Perhaps the most high-profile example has been the success of biologically male swimmer Lia Thomas, who joined a women’s college swimming competition. Thomas handily defeated a number of female competitors prior to losing to another transgender swimmer.
Thomas was considered for, but did not win, a nomination for the NCAA “Woman of the Year” award in 2022.
The swimmer’s participation on the women’s team reportedly made a number of Thomas’ female teammates uncomfortable, including due to exposing male genitalia near the other athletes.
One former swimmer, Riley Gaines, has received considerable attention speaking about issues stemming from Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming. Gaines has spoken at a number of conservative events and recently endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for president.
