U.S. Soccer has announced the creation of the Kang Women’s Institute, a new national platform aimed at advancing health, performance and development standards for women and girls across the sport. The initiative, revealed in Atlanta on 2 December, is being established through a major investment from business leader and women’s sports advocate Michele Kang.
The institute is intended to address long-standing gaps in research and training frameworks for female athletes. Studies show that only 6% of published sports and exercise research focuses solely on women, leaving many players working within systems originally designed for male physiology. U.S. Soccer says the new institute will work to close this disparity by generating evidence-led guidance for players at every level.
“For too long, women have trained, played and recovered using models built for men. That ends now,” said Michele Kang, founder and CEO of Kynisca. “This Institute will put female athletes at the center of U.S. Soccer’s scientific research and build the evidence, systems and standards that will allow women and girls to reach their full potential. This is not just about closing a research gap; it’s about creating a future where every player has the knowledge, care, and opportunity to thrive.”
Kang has been a prominent supporter of U.S. Soccer’s work in the women’s game. In late 2024, she pledged a $30 million gift to expand youth pathways, develop talent identification systems, and enhance professional opportunities for female players, coaches and referees. Earlier this year, she committed a further $25 million to link Kynisca’s Innovation Hub with Soccer Forward’s research projects.
“Michele’s belief in the women’s game are extraordinary, and I’m incredibly grateful for her leadership and generosity,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “For far too long, women and girls have trained under systems and standards built for men, and the Kang Women’s Institute is an essential first step in changing that. By grounding our work in real research and evidence, we can finally give female players the support, care, and understanding they deserve. This is the beginning of a much larger effort, and Michele has helped us take a huge leap forward in reshaping the future of the women’s game for generations to come.”
The institute will build out work already underway within the Soccer Forward Foundation’s Research & Innovation Group and collaborate with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Foundation. Its early priorities include a national study examining the key health and performance needs of female players, the development of best practice frameworks for domestic leagues, and new tools to support wellbeing and retention.
U.S. Soccer expects the institute’s findings to be shared internationally, positioning the federation as a global leader in women’s football research ahead of the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
