U.S. Soccer’s Kang Women’s Institute Announces Groundbreaking Research to Advance Female Athlete Health, Performance, and Retention
New studies aim to close critical gaps in menstrual health research and understand why girls are leaving the game
SEATTLE, WA (April 15, 2026) — U.S. Soccer’s Kang Women’s Institute (KWI), today announced its two foundational landmark research initiatives designed to transform how female soccer athletes are supported, advancing health, performance and long-term participation in the game.
In partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Kang Women’s Institute “From Lab to Pitch: Turning Menstrual Cycle & Performance Data into Better Soccer Decisions” is a first-of-its-kind study examining how menstrual cycle tracking can be effectively integrated into real-world performance environments.
Led by globally recognized experts in female physiology Jessica Freemas, PhD, KWI Research Manager, Georgie Bruinvels, PhD, KWI Sr Director of Research, and Abbie Smith-Ryan, PhD, KWI Adviser and UNC Professor, the research will evaluate whether widely used, low-cost, non-invasive tools can accurately identify menstrual cycle phases and inform training, recovery, and performance decisions.
In parallel, the Kang Women’s Institute has announced the “Hers to Play – Drop Out Study,” a research initiative led by the Kang Institute that focuses on understanding why girls leave soccer, and how to keep them in the game.
In collaboration with Biostatistician Carly Brantner, PhD, the study will examine key predictors of dropout and retention across age groups, demographics, and player pathways, helping to inform targeted, evidence-based interventions and support systems.
Together, these efforts address a critical challenge in the women’s game: girls are leaving soccer at higher rates than boys at predictable developmental stages, yet the underlying causes—ranging from physiological changes to social and structural barriers—remain insufficiently understood, particularly in the United States.
The studies’ findings, along with Kang Women’sInstitute’s Operational Best Practice Framework, being led by Dr. Amal Hassan, will inform the development of evidence-based and easy-to-access resources and education that will be available this fall for coaches, administrators, and players across all levels of the game.
“For too long, practitioners have been left without the tools, guidance, or resources to effectively track and interpret menstrual cycle data,” said Georgie Bruinvels, PhD., Senior Director of Research, Kang Women’s Institute. “That gap has had real consequences for the health, wellbeing, and performance of female players. By standardizing how this data is collected and understood, we’re not just improving processes, we’re fundamentally changing how the game supports women, setting a new and consistent standard for care both on and off the pitch.”
“Understanding why girls leave soccer requires looking beyond a single factor and examining the full context of their experiences,” said Jessica Freemas, PhD, lead researcher of the Hers to Play study at Kang Women’s Institute. “This research will provide critical insight into how biological, social, and environmental factors intersect, allowing us to identify where support systems are falling short and where interventions can make the greatest impact in keeping girls in soccer in the US, which we know has lifelong benefits for women.”
The Kang Institute’s work, currently being implemented in the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team, will draw on these learnings and best practices to support the sport’s entire community. As momentum builds toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Kang Women’s Institute and the Soccer Forward Foundation remain committed to advancing research, innovation, and investment that strengthen the future of the women’s game.
About Kang Women’s Institute
The Kang Women’s Institute (KWI), a core initiative of the Soccer Forward Foundation and U.S. Soccer, was launched in December 2025. Formerly known as Kynisca Innovation Hub, a pioneering global organization dedicated to advancing women’s sports, the Kang Women‘s Institute builds on that foundation, focusingon advancing research, innovation, and education to improve the health, performance, and long-term participation of women and girls in soccer. Operating at the intersection of science and sport, the Kang Women’s Institute addresses critical gaps in female-specific data by developing evidence-based standards and translating insights “from lab to pitch” into practical, accessible tools for coaches, practitioners, and players across all levels of the game. Through partnerships with leading academic institutions and global experts, Kang Women’s Institute is driving systemic change to ensure female athletes are supported by data designed specifically for them, creating safer, more informed environments that enhance wellbeing, elevate performance, and keep more girls in the game.