Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang named Sports Philanthropist of the Year by ESPN

Michele Kang, the owner of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, was named the Sports Philanthropist of the Year by ESPN on Tuesday.

She will be recognized during a ceremony ahead of the company’s annual ESPY awards later this month. 

In 2024, Ms. Kang made headlines with a five-year, $30 million commitment to the U.S. Soccer Federation. The funds, the largest donation in the organization’s history, will be used to set up development and training camps for women and girls. 

After last summer’s Paris Olympics, the native of South Korea also pledged $4 million to the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team, which won its first bronze medal at the Games.

Ms. Kang’s ownership portfolio includes the Spirit, the French women’s soccer club OL Lyonnes, the London City Lionesses and a share of the Baltimore Orioles. 

She is the second person named Sports Philanthropist of the Year, joining Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.