Latest Update: U.S. Soccer has announced a historic $30 million donation from billionaire Michele Kang to establish the Kang Institute for Women’s Health, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at transforming research, training, and support for female athletes.
U.S. Soccer has unveiled the Kang Institute for Women’s
Health, backed by a record $30 million gift from businesswoman and
Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang. The institute will focus on
addressing long‑standing disparities in women’s sports, particularly in areas
where female athletes have been underserved by research and training models
historically designed for men.
Key Goals of the Kang Institute
- Injury
Prevention & Recovery: Female soccer players are two to eight
times more likely to suffer ACL tears compared to men. The institute
will fund studies into biomechanics, menstrual cycle impacts, and
equipment design to reduce these risks.
- Mental
Health & Workload Management: Research will explore stress,
burnout, and the unique challenges faced by women balancing elite
competition with personal responsibilities.
- Menstrual
Health & Performance: A dedicated focus on how hormonal cycles
affect training, recovery, and injury susceptibility.
- Youth
to Elite Transition: Creating best practices to support young girls
moving into professional pathways, ensuring sustainable careers.
Impact of the Donation
- Largest
gift ever made to U.S. Soccer by a woman and the biggest investment in
its women’s and girls’ programs.
- Funding
will double the number of national team camps for women and girls,
expanding opportunities for 100,000 female players nationwide.
- The
initiative will also train and certify 70,000 female coaches and
referees, strengthening the pipeline of women leaders in soccer.
- Global
reach: U.S. Soccer plans to share findings internationally ahead of the 2027
FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2031 Women’s World Cup in
the U.S..
Michele Kang’s Vision
Kang, who also owns Olympique Lyonnais Feminine in
France and the London City Lionesses in England, emphasized that women’s
sports have been “undervalued and overlooked for far too long.” She
hopes her investment will serve as “seed capital” to inspire other
donors to elevate women’s soccer globally.
U.S. Soccer’s Response
President Cindy Parlow Cone hailed the donation as
“transformational,” noting that it will impact generations of women and
girls in the game by providing resources, opportunities, and professional
support previously unavailable.
Key Takeaway
The Kang Institute represents a historic turning point
for women’s soccer, combining science, innovation, and advocacy to ensure
female athletes receive the same level of research, care, and opportunity as
their male counterparts.
