Michele Kang Commits $30 Million to US Women’s Soccer Development

Entrepreneur Michele Kang has committed a $30 million (£23.6 million) donation to US Soccer, an amount the organization anticipates will “transform” women’s and girls’ football across the United States. Kang acquired ownership of the London City Lionesses in December 2023. This pledge from the American businesswoman, who also holds ownership of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit and the French top-tier team Lyon Feminin, in addition to the London City Lionesses of the Women’s Championship, represents the most substantial contribution ever made to US Soccer by a woman. In an official statement, US Soccer indicated that Kang’s financial contribution, distributed over the next five years, “will scale competitive opportunities for youth players, expand and improve talent identification, and fuel professional development for female players, coaches, and referees.” Kang stated, “Women’s sports have been undervalued and overlooked for far too long.” US Soccer pointed out that this presents an opportunity to double its current number of national team camps, with specific funding allocated for camps targeting women and girls. Kang expressed her commitment to “raising the standard of excellence in women’s soccer – both on and off the pitch” by equipping female athletes with the necessary resources to “reach their full potential.” The 65-year-old Kang commented, “I hope this investment serves as ‘seed capital’ and spurs other donors to follow suit.” Emma Hayes, head coach for the United States, remarked that the donation “will change the trajectory of the sport.” The former Chelsea manager further added, “We’re in a pivotal moment for soccer in the US and this will help us support more female players, coaches and referees in the game.” Kang’s financial contribution is directed towards an already well-established and impressive infrastructure. The United States team holds the distinction of being the most successful in modern women’s football, maintaining a dominant presence in the sport since the early 1990s. Their achievements include four Women’s World Cup victories and five Olympic gold medals, with the latest gold secured at the Paris Games this summer. Furthermore, the US team held the number one position in world rankings without interruption from March 2008 to November 2014, marking the longest continuous period at the top for any national team.