Trans Man Makes History by Signing With Minnesota Women’s Soccer Team

TL;DR

A Minnesota women’s soccer team has signed its first out transgender player, a decorated goalkeeper, amid ongoing national debates over gender and athletics.

Key points

Minnesota women’s soccer team signs first out transgender player
Isaac Ranson is a decorated goalkeeper
Debates over gender and athletics continue nationwide

Mentioned in this story

Isaac Ranson

Minnesota women’s soccer team

Instagram/@isaac_rranson

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This story originally appeared in The Advocate.

A Minnesota women’s soccer team has signed its first out transgender player, adding a decorated goalkeeper to its roster as debates over gender and athletics continue to reverberate nationwide.

Minnesota Aurora FC, a pre-professional club in the USL W League, announced the signing of Isaac Ranson, a transgender man who was assigned female at birth and starred at Cal State Fullerton, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Ranson, a two-time Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, leaves college as one of the most accomplished players in program history.

“Aurora believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to play soccer, and we are glad that we are able to provide a safe environment for Isaac to continue his stellar career. Our players, coaches, and organization are unified in welcoming Isaac to Aurora,” Aurora club president Saara Hassoun said in a statement to the Star Tribune.

The Aurora, a community-owned club, has quickly built a following in Minnesota since its founding in 2021.

Ranson’s path to this moment, however, has been shaped as much by personal reckoning as athletic success. In an interview published by the Big West Conference, he described years of feeling out of place before finding the language to understand his identity. “I was in denial about my identity,” Ranson said, recalling how he struggled to reconcile his sense of self with expectations placed on him growing up.

Q&A

Who is the first out transgender player signed by the Minnesota women’s soccer team?

The first out transgender player signed by the Minnesota women’s soccer team is Isaac Ranson.

What position does Isaac Ranson play on the Minnesota women’s soccer team?

Isaac Ranson plays as a goalkeeper on the Minnesota women’s soccer team.

Why is Isaac Ranson's signing significant in the context of gender and athletics?

Isaac Ranson's signing is significant as it marks a historic moment in women's sports, highlighting the ongoing debates over gender inclusion in athletics.