I personally don’t have a well-rounded knowledge of sports, nor does the topic interest me. Sure, I own a much too big ‘Nuggets’ shirt that I dust off for every spirit week, but the line ends there. But many young girls today can proudly show off their favorite players’ jersey, something that wasn’t always the case. For decades, women’s sports were overshadowed, underfunded, and dismissed as secondary to men’s athletics. However, women like Michele Kang are changing that narrative.
Michele Kang, a businesswoman and entrepreneur, is making waves in the world of women’s sports. As the owner of the Washington Spirit, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), she is not just investing in a team but in the future of women’s athletics. She aims to build an infrastructure where female athletes receive the same level of respect, training, and visibility as their male counterparts.
However, her path to sports ownership was anything but traditional. Before stepping into the world of athletics as a Korean-born student, Kang made her mark in healthcare technology, founding Cognosante, a company specializing in health IT solutions. Her strong business and leadership have seamlessly carried over into the sports industry, where she is now working to elevate women’s soccer and ensure the league’s long-term success.
A research study done by the Women’s Sports Foundation found that, “by age 14, many girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys”. WSF presents the problem and subsequently the reason why aspiring female athletes should continue to play in the sports industry- yet no existing solution. Three of six given issues are real-world in real-time- that Kang is the answer to:
- Lack of access- “Girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys have. Lack of physical education in schools and limited opportunities to play sports in both high school and college mean girls have to look elsewhere for sports –which may not exist or may cost more money.”
- Social stigma- “Despite recent progress, discrimination based on the real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of female athletes persists. Girls in sports may experience bullying, social isolation, negative performance evaluations, or the loss of their starting position.”
- Decreased quality of experience- “The facilities are not as good as the boys’ venues and the playing times may not be optimal. The availability of quality, trained coaches may be lacking in their community or these coaches may be more focused on the boys’ programs that have more money for training. Equipment, and even uniforms aren’t funded for many girls’ programs at the same levels as boys so their ability to grow and enjoy the sport is diminished.”
Kang’s impact goes beyond just owning a team. She has advocated for better working conditions, fair wages, and increased media attention for female athletes. Under her leadership, the Washington Spirit has seen significant growth, both in terms of performance and fan engagement. She is expanding opportunities for girls to play by investing in infrastructure and programs that make the sport more accessible and affordable. Just last November, Kang made a “historic investment” of $30 million over the next five years to a non-profit ‘U.S. Soccer’, “which is the largest philanthropic investment in U.S. Soccer’s women’s and girls’ programs and the most generous donation ever made to U.S. Soccer by a woman.” She understands that for women’s sports to thrive, investment and proper management are crucial.
As someone who doesn’t follow sports closely, I might not be the first to analyze game strategies or debate player rankings. But I can recognize when someone is reshaping an industry for the better. Michele Kang is proving that women’s sports are not just worthy of attention—they are bursting with potential, waiting to be fully realized. “Women’s sports have been undervalued and overlooked for far too long,” said Kang. “I am committed to raising the standard of excellence in women’s soccer — both on and off the pitch — by delivering the resources female athletes need to reach their full potential and surround them with the professional support they deserve”.
By Bahnya Kim 2025-1-6
