US Soccer: Michele Kang gives $30m to women’s football in United States

Businesswoman Michele Kang has pledged $30m (£23.6m) to US Soccer – a donation the organisation says will “transform” women’s and girls’ football in the United States.

The commitment by American Kang, who owns National Women’s Soccer League team the Washington Spirit, French top-flight side Lyon Feminin and the London City Lionesses of the Women’s Championship, is the largest ever made to US Soccer by a women.

In a statement, US Soccer said Kang’s investment 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”.

“Women’s sports have been undervalued and overlooked for far too long,” said Kang.

US Soccer highlighted an opportunity to double the number of national team camps it currently runs, specifically funding camps for women and girls.

Kang said she is “committed to raising the standard of excellence in women’s soccer – both on and off the pitch” by providing female athletes with the resources needed to “reach their full potential”.

“I hope this investment serves as ‘seed capital’ and spurs other donors to follow suit,” said 65-year-old Kang.

United States head coach Emma Hayes said the donation “will change the trajectory of the sport”.

The former Chelsea boss 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 money is going towards an already formidable set-up.

The United States are the most successful team in modern women’s football, having been a dominant force in the game since the early 1990s.

They have won four Women’s World Cups and five Olympic gold medals – the most recent at the Paris Games this summer.

The US were also number one in the world rankings continuously from March 2008 to November 2014 – the longest consecutive stay in the top ranking by any national team.