Korean-American tycoon with "1.6455 trillion won in assets" writes new soccer history again: "Conquering the U.S. is becoming reality... all thanks to our owner"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The extraordinary class of a Korean-American club owner. Washington Spirit, a team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) led by owner Michelle Kang (Korean name: Kang Yong-mi), set a historic record by becoming the first team in league history to reach the championship final for the fifth time overall.

U.S. media outlet "ESPN" reported on the 15th (Korea time), "Washington defeated Utah Royals 2-1 in the playoff semifinal, becoming the first team in NWSL history to step onto the championship final stage for the fifth time overall," adding, "The realization of owner Michelle Kang's dream of dominating the NWSL is within reach."

Under owner Michelle Kang's regime, Washington reached the championship final consecutively over the past two years but lost both times 0-1, settling for runner-up.

However, this year is different. The 2026 NWSL Championship Final will be held at Audi Field, Washington's home stadium. As a result, Washington has become the third team in history to play a championship match at its home ground since the introduction of the pre-designated final venue system. If they win the final, they will become the second club in history to lift the championship trophy at home, following North Carolina Courage in 2019.

The semifinal victory over Utah was a dramatic comeback story. Washington fell behind after conceding the fastest goal in playoff history—a direct corner kick goal by Utah's Chloe Lacasse just 1 minute and 57 seconds into the match—but restored balance six minutes later with an equalizer by Sofia Cantore, assisted by star player Trinity Rodman. Then, in the 11th minute of the second half, Clara Rubanga beat the opposing goalkeeper to score the winning goal, turning the tide. With this, Washington extended its postseason home unbeaten streak to eight consecutive wins, including their championship run in 2021.

Behind this historic achievement lies the massive investment and drive of owner Michelle Kang, known as the "Women's Mansour." According to U.S. business magazine "Forbes," owner Michelle Kang is a self-made Korean-American entrepreneur with assets estimated at $1.2 billion (approximately 1.6455 trillion won). She joined Washington as a minority investor in 2021, experienced a championship win, and then became the majority shareholder in 2023, completely transforming the club's character. Ahead of this season, she demonstrated her determination to win by signing a groundbreaking three-year contract extension with Rodman, a key player for the team. Even after the match, Rodman expressed deep trust at a press conference, stating, "Our owner does so much for us."

Moreover, this semifinal nearly faced a crisis where it could not be held at Audi Field, but the club's leadership made a decisive move to overcome it. Initially, a U.S. college football game was scheduled for noon on match day. Before their semifinal berth was even confirmed, Washington's club management began negotiations with the stadium operators, proposing to buy out the football schedule. They also secured sponsor support, pushing the football game back to 4:30 p.m. and successfully hosting their home match at noon.

This stands in stark contrast to Gotham FC, which was forced to play its semifinal in a small 5,000-seat stadium due to poor turf conditions at its home ground. Kim Stone, Washington's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), credited owner Kang in an interview with "ESPN," stating, "We were able to achieve results like today because we have a great owner and leader who can overcome crises and make the impossible possible."

Washington, which had an average attendance of only around 4,000 at Audi Field as recently as 2021, has transformed into the league's most popular club, currently on a streak of selling out all 19,000 seats for six consecutive playoff home games, fueled by owner Kang's continuous investment.

Owner Michelle Kang, who is causing seismic shifts in the global women's soccer landscape by acquiring Washington, France's Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and England's London City Lionesses, is now aiming to reclaim her other American Dream—the NWSL throne—before her home fans.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original