“How can you do this because you don’t have a men’s team from which you can draw the equity, the brand power, and the fanbase?” This was exactly the kind of question that many posed to Michele Kang after she acquired WSL 2 side London City Lionesses in 2023. Honestly, not a surprising question, considering to this day, there are certain challenges the women’s game faces. But talk about silencing the critics as 17 months later, Kang proudly says, ‘Anything is possible.’

Yep, you heard it correctly. The Women’s Championship side has achieved promotion to the WSL for the very first time. With this achievement, they will be the only independent club to be competing in the top flight next season. The Hayes, Bromley-based team needed just one point to secure the Championship trophy, and it came from a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City.

Technically, it could have been a dream win for London City Lionesses as after a stalemate opening half, goals from Isobel Goodwin and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah within the first 15 minutes of the second half gave the away side a perfect lead. But it seemed Birmingham was in no mood to lose on their home turf. Courtesy of Emily van Egmond and Cho So-Hyun in the 63rd and 86th minutes, the Brum ladies were able to reduce the deficit.

Not to mention, Birmingham had been London City’s arch-rivals throughout the campaign, giving them tough competition in the standings and ultimately finishing just two points behind them. Yet, it was Michele Kang’s team that fate favored, securing a historic promotion to England’s top women’s division with a nail-biting game.

Describing the four-goal thriller as “not good” for her heart, Kang emphasized that this was only a glimpse of the spectacle that fans and women’s soccer truly deserve. “This is a great day for London City Lionesses—the players, coaching staff, and everyone involved. We’re going up to the WSL!” she declared during the post-trophy celebration interview with Sky Sports.

Of course, credit goes to the hard work of players and head coach Jocelyn Prêcheur. However, Michele deserves a special mention for the job she has done for London City Lionesses within a couple of years. “When I first came a lot of people were very concerned for me,” she said. “As an independent team, to accomplish this [promotion] in one year is proof that with proper investment and resources, anything is possible.”

Moreover, the London City Lionesses is only one of her success stories, having recently secured the NWSL Challenge Cup as the owner of Washington Spirit—a team she acquired in 2022. Two years later, the 65-year-old also splurged her millions on the French side Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. Not to forget that the revered philanthropist and investor is no less than a backbone for US Soccer, having donated $30 million in the name of promoting the country’s women’s program.

Surely, all of Michele Kang’s business acumen is paying off as she continues to lead all three of her clubs successfully—the latest being the London City Lionesses. And if you think promotion was the only thing Kang had in store for her newly minted WSL side, think again—we’ve got more news coming your way.

Michele Kang is already envisioning London City Lionesses’ future

“We have been building a team to be at a minimum, on day one, mid-tier WSL,” she told Sky Sports while reflecting on her journey with the London City Lionesses so far. Having secured their historic promotion to the Women’s Super League, it’s only natural for the club to start envisioning its future. The 2025–26 campaign may still be a few months away, but preparations are clearly underway, starting with the expected focus on transfer plans.

When asked whether she anticipates any challenges ahead, Kang dismissed the idea, insisting that things are moving smoothly from here on out. “A lot of top players didn’t want to join a championship team but now that we’re in WSL, I think it’s gonna be easier to recruit,” remarked the Spirit owner.

You might expect her to spend a few days celebrating the promotion win with her players—but that’s far from the case. Michele Kang revealed that first thing this morning, she had already scheduled meetings with the recruitment and sporting directors to begin planning for next season. The groundwork was laid even before the big win, showing just how focused she is on the future.

“Very, very excited,” she concluded. If that doesn’t sound exciting, then what does?