Former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe defended Barbra Banda, whom the BBC named Women’s Footballer of The Year despite controversy surrounding the player’s eligibility in Africa.
Banda withdrew from the Zambian squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after failing to meet sex eligibility requirements in 2022, the BBC previously reported. Banda was allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics and has become the second-leading scorer in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) this season, playing for the Orlando Pride.
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Megan Rapinoe attends 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)
Despite the reported failed eligibility, Banda was still named the award winner while transgender inclusion in women’s sports has become a hot-button issue in the U.S. and abroad.
Rapinoe spoke out in a post in her since-expired Instagram Stories.
“You’ve thrilled, entertained and inspired us, and the world, all year long,” Rapinoe wrote on Friday, via Goal.com. “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.”
The 2024 season with the Pride was the first for Banda, who scored 13 goals in 22 matches.
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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)
Orlando was 18-6-2 and won the NWSL Championship for the first time in league history. Banda scored the lone goal in the match.
Rapinoe has been a staunch advocate for LGBTQ rights and trans-inclusion in women’s sports.
She said in July 2023 she would support a transgender female player on the U.S. women’s national team.
“Absolutely,” she told Time magazine last year. “‘You’re taking a ‘real’ woman’s place,’ that’s the part of the argument that’s still extremely transphobic. I see trans women as real women. What you’re saying automatically in the argument – you’re sort of telling on yourself already – is you don’t believe these people are women.
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)
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“Therefore, they’re taking the other spot. I don’t feel that way.”
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
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