USA Women's Rugby receives $4 million donation after taking home bronze medal

After a historic run through the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the USA Women’s Rugby team got even bigger news, with a monster $4 million donation made to the program.

USA Rugby announced the donation on Tuesday afternoon, with the generous gift coming from Michele Kang, who owns the Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Feminin and the London City Lionesses women’s soccer clubs.

Kang has long been a proponent of women’s sports and advancing them through her considerable wealth.

The donation comes just hours after the USA Women’s Rugby sevens team knocked off Great Britain and Australia in back-to-back days to take the bronze medal. It was the first Olympics medal in rugby sevens for the Americans in either the men’s or the women’s side.

“2024 has been a banner year for women’s sports with record-breaking attendance and viewership, and women’s rugby is no exception,” Kang said in a press release. “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.”

Kang’s donation of $4 million will be spread out over the course of the next four years, leading up to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. For context, the average yearly donation to USA Women’s Rugby from fiscal year 2018-2022 was $1.76 million, according to numbers reported by Sports Business Journal’s Rachel Axon.

And Kang’s point about the current momentum of women’s sports as a whole is well taken. Multiple records fell during the 2023-24 college athletics season.

First the women’s basketball national championship drew a record 18.7 million viewers. Then the softball final at the Women’s College World Series between Oklahoma and Texas drew an average 2.2 million viewers, another record.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and a strong rookie class in the WNBA have continued to help the league push new record marks.

All of that same momentum could easily be seen in the USA Women’s Rugby team, which charmed viewers with its run to the bronze medal match. That momentum will continue with Kang’s donation.

“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.”