NWSL Teams and League Unite to Support Barbra Banda After Abuse Incident

Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, and the National Women`s Soccer League (NWSL) have all publicly declared their strong support for Orlando Pride player Barbra Banda following an incident of hateful language directed at her during a game against Gotham FC.

Gotham FC stated they are aware of the incident that occurred during Sunday`s match and firmly condemn such behavior, emphasizing it has no place in the league or stadiums. They confirmed that stadium security responded immediately, addressed the individual involved, and monitored the situation for the rest of the game. Gotham FC and the NWSL are collaborating to investigate further and will take appropriate action under the league`s Fan Code of Conduct.

Orlando Pride and the NWSL also released statements backing Banda and outlining further steps to address the issue.

Delayed Response to Ongoing Abuse

Gotham FC mentioned reaching out to Orlando Pride leaders to offer apologies and support on Monday. This public statement is the first from the league since Banda faced significant online bullying last November after winning the BBC Women`s Footballer of the Year award.

The online abuse included attacks from public figures, such as author J.K. Rowling, who criticized the BBC`s choice and appeared to misgender Banda in a social media post.

Following the online attacks, the Orlando Pride, NWSL Players Association, and NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke voiced their support for Banda. Burke directly responded to Rowling, defending Banda and asserting the NWSLPA`s solidarity against such attacks.

Moving Forward

This recent incident marks a concerning escalation, as abusive rhetoric has now moved from online platforms into NWSL game environments, highlighting a previous lack of protection for Banda outside of the players` union.

Barbra Banda, a top player in the NWSL, gained prominence through her outstanding performances, including at the Olympics and in her first NWSL season. Her achievements led to both recognition and unfortunately, racist and transphobic abuse after receiving the BBC award.

Gotham FC indicated that the fan using abusive language was addressed by security and monitored, but not removed from the stadium.

Orlando Pride`s next home game is scheduled against San Diego Wave FC on Saturday.