Minnesota Aurora FC has signed goalkeeper Isaac Ranson, making him the club’s first openly transgender player. Ranson, a Ventura, California native and Cal State Fullerton standout, joins the Twin Cities pre‑professional W League side ahead of the 2026 summer season.
The move surfaced May 4, when the club said it would release its full roster that day and confirmed it will play preseason matches May 9 and May 16 before opening the regular season May 21 against Rochester FC, as reported by the Star Tribune. Aurora president Saara Hassoun told the paper the club wants to provide a welcoming environment, and Ranson added, "For me, it's very important to find an inclusive team, community, organization." The team will play home matches at TCO Stadium in Eagan, and broadcast partner Fox 9 will carry home games this season.
Ranson’s college resume
Ranson spent five seasons with the Cal State Fullerton Titans and set program career marks for saves (347), shutouts (31), and minutes played (6,934), per the Cal State Fullerton roster. He was twice named the Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and finished 2025 with a 0.400 goals‑against average, according to the Big West. TopDrawerSoccer also recognized him among its college standouts for the 2025 season.
Rules and eligibility
The signing lands in the middle of a still‑shifting landscape for transgender athlete eligibility. The USL W League rulebook says players "shall register only with the gender team with which the player was assigned at birth," and the league told reporters its policy aligns with national governing bodies, per the Star Tribune. That exists alongside evolving national guidance and federation updates, and the U.S. Soccer Federation's policy manual discusses registration and eligibility in broader terms. The mix of league rules and changing governing‑body guidance leaves clubs and players sorting through a complicated eligibility picture as the season approaches.
What to watch this season
Aurora's preseason tuneups on May 9 and May 16 will be the first look at how Ranson fits into a roster built to chase the club’s first W League title, with the regular opener set for May 21 at TCO Stadium. Fans will want to watch roster postings and match‑day lineups in the coming weeks as the club finalizes its squad and gears up for a season of local broadcasts and home matches in Eagan.
