Minnesota Aurora Women’s Soccer Team Signs First Trans Athlete

Minnesota Aurora FC has signed its first transgender player, adding former Cal State Fullerton standout goaltender Isaac Ranson to the USL W-League, a community-run pre-professional women’s soccer division.

Aurora staff contacted Ranson in November as the team looked to extend its four-game losing streak in the regular season while pursuing its first W-League title. Aurora last reached a league championship in 2022, losing 2-1 to South Georgia Tormenta FC.

The team will begin the season with preseason matches on May 9th and May 16th, before opening the regular season against Rochester FC on May 21st.

Ranson said: Minnesota Star Tribune He said he researched the club before signing and found that it stated: values His idea of ​​”creating avenues for women, girls, and gender-expanding people to reach their potential on and off the field” aligns with his own.

“For me, it is Finding an inclusive team, community, and organization is so important,” said Bencher, a California native.

Aurora Club president Saara Hassun issued a statement supporting Ranson.

“Aurora “We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to play football and we are pleased to be able to provide a safe environment for Isaac to continue his successful career,” she said.Our players, coaches and organization are united in welcoming Isaac to Aurora. ”

The United Soccer League, which governs several men’s and women’s semi-professional and professional leagues, states in its W-League and men’s League 2 rulebooks that players can only be registered “with the team of the gender with which they were assigned at birth,” regardless of gender identity.

USL claims its policy is consistent with the eligibility standards of the U.S. Soccer Federation, which has harmonized rules with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Last year, the commission updated its Athlete Safety Policy, which bans athletes designated male at birth from competing in female-designated sports, following an order from President Trump that recognized only birth gender as valid and threatened to confiscate federal funds from organizations that allow transgender women to compete as women.

USL says its policy is consistent with eligibility criteria set by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which follows rules set by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Last year, the commission updated its Athlete Safety Policy to prohibit athletes assigned male at birth from participating in female-designated sports.

Ranson acknowledged that the team was taking a risk by signing him, noting that transgender athletes often face backlash from those who oppose their participation in women’s sports. Although transgender men have historically not been scrutinized as harshly as transgender women, some critics oppose the inclusion of transgender athletes.

“It can be a hotly debated topic, especially these days,” Ranson said. star tribune. “In other words, [a team] Sadly, we have to be prepared to lose some fans because of this… [the Aurora] They have been very supportive of who I am as a person and as a player. ”

Ranson first came out as queer during his freshman year of college, when he redshirted and earned an extra year of eligibility. He later transitioned socially, adopting the name Isaac and male pronouns. By the 2024 season, he had fully come out as transgender and maintained his eligibility under NCAA rules that allow transgender and nonbinary players assigned female at birth to play on women’s teams if they have not started hormone therapy.

Ranson said the Titans are supporting his transition and that coaches are trying to refer to players as “athletes” rather than just “women.” When he recorded his 31st career shutout, breaking the school record, the team posted a video of his teammates flocking to him to celebrate, calling him the “shutout king” in the caption.

“I definitely feel comfortable being myself in women’s sports,” Ranson told S.tar tribune. “I don’t identify as a woman, but I still feel accepted as one.”