US Soccer has announced the launch of the Kang Women’s Institute, a platform for research and standards development in women’s soccer. The institute is backed by an investment from Michele Kang, founder and CEO of Kynisca, a global organization dedicated to women’s sports, headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
The Kang Institute will establish research-backed best practices for the training and wellbeing of women and girls at every level of soccer. Only 6% of published research in sports and exercise journals is focused exclusively on women, according to a recent analysis.
“For too long, women have trained, played and recovered using models built for men. That ends now,” said Kang. “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.”
In November 2024, Kang pledged a $30 million gift to US Soccer to scale competitive opportunities for youth players, expand talent identification, and support professional development for female players, coaches, and referees. In April 2025, Kang made an additional $25 million investment to integrate the Kynisca Innovation Hub into Soccer Forward‘s research initiatives.
“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,” said US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “By grounding our work in real research and evidence, we can finally give female players the support, care, and understanding they deserve.”
The Kang Institute will evolve from the Soccer Forward Foundation’s Research & Innovation Group and work in collaboration with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Foundation. The institute has begun work on several projects, including conducting the first comprehensive national study to assess the current and emerging needs of female players at every level, including injury prevention, mental health, workload management, menstrual health, and the transition from youth to elite competition.
The institute is co-creating a framework with the National Women’s Soccer League and United Soccer League that defines best practices in player health, safety, training, and development ahead of the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups. The institute is also developing tools to support female athletes’ physical and mental wellbeing, address dropout points, and provide evidence-based support systems for coaches, parents, and clubs.
The research generated by the Kang Institute will be disseminated across the global soccer ecosystem for use by clubs, leagues, coaches, and federations worldwide. The US is co-hosting the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
