U.S. Soccer has started the Kang Women’s Institute to improve women’s soccer through research and innovation. The institute will focus on training, health, and support for female players at all levels.
On Tuesday, U.S. Soccer announced the launch of the Kang Women’s Institute, a new platform dedicated to improving women’s soccer. The institute will use scientific research to enhance training methods and health care for female soccer players across the country.
The announcement was made in Manhattan during the 2025 U.S. Soccer Summit. The event included a panel discussion featuring U.S. women’s national team player Kelley O’Hara, Michele Kang, U.S. Soccer Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone, and researcher Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan from the University of North Carolina.
Michele Kang, who has been involved with the Washington Spirit since 2020 and became the majority owner in 2022, has played a key role in this initiative. Under her leadership, the Washington Spirit won its first championship in 2021. Kang has invested approximately 51 million euros into U.S. Soccer over the past two years to support women’s soccer development.
The Kang Women’s Institute is already working on three main projects: a national study to understand the specific needs of female players, creating best practice guidelines in partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and United Soccer League, and developing tools to support the health and well-being of female athletes.
Kang has also pledged around 28 million euros to improve opportunities for youth players and invested an additional 23 million euros to support her Kynisca Innovation Hub. She owns teams in France and England and has funded projects for female sports equipment. Kang hopes the institute will inspire similar programs worldwide, encouraging girls everywhere to pursue sports without limits. Cindy Parlow Cone highlighted the importance of research focused on female athletes to help them perform better and stay active longer.
