Olympic Rugby: USA receive MAMMOTH four million dollar donation following sevens success in Paris

The USA women’s Sevens team have received a whopping $4 million donation following their historic bronze medal win at the Olympic Games in Paris.

The donation from prominent sports businesswoman Michele Kang, which will be spread over the course of four years, will help grow the women’s game and provide improved resources for both the players and coaches building into the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Kang is currently the owner of several women’s football teams including Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and London City Lionesses and is the founder of Kynisca Sports International.

“Beyond grateful”

In a statement, Bill Goren, Chief Executive Officer at USA Rugby, said: “We are stunned and beyond grateful for this transformative gift from Michele to advance USA Women’s 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.”

Olympic Rugby Sevens: New Zealand win Gold as Canada beaten while USA claim stunning Bronze

Also commenting on the news, Kang said: “2024 has been a banner year for women’s sports with record-breaking attendance and viewership, and women’s rugby is no exception.”

“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.”

Growth of the women’s game in the USA

The mammoth donation is the latest boost for the USA women’s team.

Spearheaded by star player Ilona Maher, the team defeated reigning SVNS World Series champions Australia 14-12 to claim Bronze. The win also marked the USA’s first-ever Olympic medal in the seven-a-side game.

Elsewhere, Maher has also become the most-followed rugby player in the world during the Olympics, and at the time of writing sits on around 2 million followers on Instagram.

The USA will now be looking to build on this success as they look towards their home Olympic Games in 2028.

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