Trailblazing businesswoman and investor to donate $4 million to US Women’s Rugby Sevens team.
The USA Rugby today announced an unprecedented donation from Michele Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and London City Lionesses women’s soccer clubs. Kang, who is dedicated to the advancement of women’s sports through Kynisca Sports International, the first global, female-owned, multi-club organization in women’s football, will gift $4 million over the course of four years to the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team as it looks to grow the sport and provide improved resources to its players and coaching staff in anticipation of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The donation comes on the heels of a historic run for the team in the Paris Olympics. After an impressive win over Great Britain on Monday, the United States defeated Australia in the Bronze Medal Match on Tuesday evening, securing the first Olympic medal for the United States rugby sevens across both the men's and women's competitions.
“2024 has been a banner year for women’s sports with record-breaking attendance and viewership, and women’s rugby is no exception,” said Michele Kang, Founder of Kynisca Sports International. “This Eagles team, led by players like Ilona Maher and co-captains Lauren Doyle and Naya Tapper, has captivated millions of new fans, bringing unprecedented attention to the sport. I am so happy to support these outstanding athletes to realize their dream in capturing the gold in Los Angeles in 2028. That work starts now. As corporate sponsors and broadcast networks increasingly see the value and enthusiasm for women’s sports, now is the moment to unlock the full potential of these incredible female athletes and inspire generations to come.”
“We are stunned and beyond grateful for this transformative gift from Michele to advance USA Women’s Rugby,” said Bill Goren, Chief Executive Officer at USA Rugby. “This will allow us to supercharge the progression of this program as we build to climb the podium in 2028 with Gold Medal aspirations in Los Angeles. This increase in support will ensure we can deploy the resources to the right places to win when it matters the most, inspiring a nation of rugby players and solidifying our place on the world stage.”
As the first woman of color to own a National Women's Soccer League team, the Washington Spirit, and the majority owner of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and London City Lionesses, Kang has set new standards in women's sports. On Saturday, July 27th, she launched Kynisca Sports International, Ltd., the first multi-team global organization focused on professionalizing women's football, bringing unprecedented investment to the sport at a scale to drive lasting change. As part of Kynisca, Kang also announced the creation of the Kynisca Innovation Hub, a non-profit organization seeded with a $50 million philanthropic contribution from Kang, which aims to revolutionize training methods and unlock athletic potential for all female athletes, through research, education and innovation.
Kynisca Sports International, Ltd. is a pioneering global organization dedicated to women’s sports, headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Kynisca’s mission is to transform women's football through unprecedented investment, proving its commercial viability and cultural impact around the world. The organization supports female athletes with state-of-the-art facilities, world-class technical staff, and innovative sports science through the Kynisca Innovation Hub, while preserving each club’s unique identity. Kynisca is the first global, female-owned, multi-club organization leading the way in women’s health innovation and entertainment while building a high-performance culture of excellence on and off the pitch. For more information, visit our website here.
The Kynisca Innovation Hub (KIH) is a global, innovative center dedicated to revolutionizing training methodologies for female athletes through cutting-edge research, education, and innovation. With only six percent of sports science research focused on women, KIH aims to unlock female athletic potential by establishing the largest female athlete health and performance hub globally. As part of Kynisca’s mission to transform women’s football and support female athletes, KIH tailors performance evaluation and training to the specifics of the female body, pioneering a holistic model that will disrupt the women's sports industry. For more information, visit our website here.
