Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishWashington Spirit owner Michele Kang is investing an additional $25 million in U.S. Soccer for the development and research of women’s soccer via the federation’s Soccer Forward Foundation.This marks Kang’s second donation to the federation in five months. The founder and CEO of Kynisca, a women’s sports organization based in London that aims to advance research and development of women’s soccer, shared the announcement alongside U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson on Friday at the SheBelieves Summit in Los Angeles. The move is part of a larger initiative to integrate the current operations of Kynisca Innovation Hub into Soccer Forward.Kang’s latest investment builds on a $30 million pledge made last November to be used by the federation over the next five years. As the largest donation toward women’s and girls’ programs in U.S. Soccer’s 111-year history, it is intended to grow competitive opportunities for youth soccer players, improve talent identification mechanisms and champion the professional development of female players, coaches and referees.In the last three years, Kang has made increasingly splashy moves as a major investor in women’s soccer in the U.S. and Europe. She became the majority owner of the Washington Spirit in 2022, expanding her club portfolio to the London City Lionesses in December 2023 and the eight-time Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais Feminin in February 2024 to build the first multi-club model in women’s soccer.“This integration represents a major step forward in advancing research and setting new standards for women’s sports,” Kang said. “By working together, we are ensuring that players at all levels benefit from innovative insights and best practices. Women’s soccer is experiencing historic growth, but there’s still work to be done to break down systemic barriers and secure the investment needed for female athletes.”According to the release, the new partnership will run through two major channels of focus: research and solutions-oriented initiatives toward positive health outcomes in women’s sports and the implementation of best practice standards to guide women’s soccer performances and grow the game globally.U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said that by “integrating Kynisca Innovation Hub talent into Soccer Forward, we can drive real change through research-backed standards that support players at every level.”(Photo: James A. Pittman / Imagn Images)
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