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United States Soccer (USSF) has announced that Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang is to donate $30 million to the federation’s women’s and girls’ programs.
Kang’s funding will go towards scaling competitive opportunity for youth players, improving talent identification and fueling professional development, according to the USSF’s news release.
The money will allow the USSF to double the number of national team camps for its youth teams to six per year as well as handing development opportunities to an extra 70,000 female coaches and referees.
Kang owns the Spirit as well as Lyon in France and the London City Lionesses in England. The businesswomen is making the largest-ever donation to the USSF by a woman, the federation said.
“Women’s sports have been undervalued and overlooked for far too long,” Kang said in the USSF release. “I am committed to raising the standard of excellence in women’s soccer — both on and off the pitch — by delivering the resources female athletes need to reach their full potential and surround them with the professional support they deserve. I hope this investment serves as ‘seed capital’ and spurs other donors to follow suit.”
USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone added: “Michele Kang’s gift will transform soccer for women and girls in the United States.
“It will impact generations of women and girls in our game, including players, coaches, and referees. I know first hand the power soccer can have in someone’s life and thanks to Michele, we will be able to provide more support and opportunities for women and girls.”
The United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes spoke highly of the investment, saying it has the potential to “change the trajectory of the sport.”
In August, Kang announced a $50m global investment in improving the health of elite female athletes with the launch of Kynisca Sports International Ltd, the first organization focused exclusively on women’s soccer across multiple teams.
The Spirit is set to play the Orlando Pride for the NWSL Shield after a dramatic penalty-shootout victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC in the semifinals.