Key Takeaways

• Billionaire Michele Kang is launching the Kang Women’s Institute within U.S. Soccer’s Soccer Forward foundation, backed by a $25 million commitment
• An additional $30 million will fund specific programs for youth sports and coaching development
• Only 6% of sports science research globally focuses on women, a gap the institute aims to address
• Research projects are already underway with UNC and Duke universities
• The institute will launch the first nationwide study focused specifically on the needs of female athletes

via: FORTUNE

A New Research Hub for Women’s Sports

Michele Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit, London City Lionesses, and OL Lyonnes, is formalizing her commitment to women’s sports research with the launch of the Kang Women’s Institute. The institute will operate within U.S. Soccer’s Soccer Forward foundation and focus on studying the specific needs of female athletes across injury recovery, pregnancy reentry, and youth coaching practices.

Kang’s total financial commitment stands at $55 million: $25 million for the institute itself and $30 million earmarked for youth sports and coaching programs. Research collaborations with UNC and Duke are already in progress.

The initiative builds on work Kang began through Kynisca, her women’s sports organization launched in 2024. Earlier this year, she merged Kynisca’s innovation hub with U.S. Soccer, citing the federation’s convening power as a way to accelerate researcher and participant recruitment.

Addressing a Major Gap in Sports Science

The institute’s focus responds to a significant disparity in sports research. According to Kang, only 6% of sports science research globally focuses on women. She attributes this to broader societal bias in both sports and health research, noting that female athletes have historically been treated as “small men” rather than studied on their own terms.

Emma Hayes, coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team and a key advisor on the initiative, reinforced this point. “The whole system is based on copy and paste from the men’s game,” Hayes said.

Hayes pointed to her own experience at Chelsea Women, where three players suffered ACL injuries in a single year. Physical therapists couldn’t explain why female players weren’t recovering in the same six to seven month window typical for men. “We don’t have as much testosterone, so we don’t build muscle in the same way,” Hayes explained. She believes earlier integration of these physiological differences into rehabilitation protocols could have improved outcomes.

The institute also plans to address performance factors tied to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and postpartum return to play, including distinctions between vaginal births and C-sections.

Youth Sports Investment Takes Center Stage

Of particular relevance to the youth sports industry is the $30 million allocation for youth programs and coaching development. Research shows that girls often drop out of sports around age 12, coinciding with the onset of puberty and related body confidence challenges. The institute’s work aims to equip youth coaches with tools to support young female athletes during this critical period.

Hayes emphasized that training coaches requires more than logistical preparedness. “It’s not as simple as just going to the field with an extra tampon and a sanitary towel, though that would be helpful,” she said. “Everything from ensuring we don’t wear white shorts to what are the best ways for having challenging conversations in what is a really tricky period for young girls? How might we support them when body image plays such an important part in their own self-confidence?”

The institute has committed to creating tools and resources to support athlete well-being and establishing research-backed standards in player health, safety protocols, and training methods in collaboration with the NWSL and USL.

Strengthening the U.S. Pipeline

For Kang, youth investment serves both a social mission and a business imperative. Girls’ soccer programs in the U.S. have less infrastructure and support compared to Europe, creating challenges for American clubs seeking to retain elite talent. Salary caps in domestic leagues limit earning potential, making European opportunities increasingly attractive to top players.

“We have to make sure that we invest in really showing the clear path,” Kang said, “so that young girls can aspire to be the next Alex Morgan, the next Trinity Rodman.”

The initiative also marks a shift for U.S. Soccer, which settled an equal pay lawsuit with players in 2022. Hayes joined as USWNT coach in 2024, and Kang began her involvement in women’s sports nearly four years ago.

What This Means for Youth Sports Operators

The Kang Women’s Institute represents one of the largest private investments specifically targeting research and development for female athletes, with direct implications for youth sports organizations.

Operators working with girls’ programs may see new resources emerge around coaching certification, health and safety protocols, and athlete retention strategies. The institute’s commitment to launching the first nationwide study on female athletes could also produce data that shapes how youth organizations design programming, particularly around the age 12 drop-off point.

As research partnerships with universities expand and standards are developed alongside professional leagues, youth soccer organizations may find themselves with access to evidence-based frameworks that were previously unavailable at the grassroots level.

image: Elysia SU – ISI Photos / Getty Images

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