LOVB Pro(pronounced "love" and commonly referred to asLeague One Volleyball) is an American women's professionalindoor volleyballleague. The league is owned by League One Volleyball (LOVB), a volleyball body founded in 2020. Its first season will begin in January 2025.
 | |
| Sport | Volleyball |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 19, 2021 |
| First season | 2025 |
| Owner(s) | League One Volleyball |
| CEO | Katlyn Gao |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles,California,United States |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN |
| Streaming partner(s) | ESPN+ |
| Official website | LOVB |
History
editLeague One Volleyball (LOVB) was founded in 2020 by Katlyn Gao, Peter Hirschmann, and OlympianKevin Wongas a network of youth volleyball clubs across the United States with the intent of eventually creating and sustaining a professional league.[1]As of August 2024[update],LOVB's youth business includes 60 club locations in 24 states, with over 14,000 youth athletes and 3,000 coaches. These clubs provide volleyball coaching and preparation for team competition for youth ages 12-18 interested in playing travel volleyball.[2]
On October 19, 2021, LOVB formally announced the creation of its professional league, branded as LOVB Pro.[3]
On March 9, 2023, LOVB announced its first professional cities asAtlanta, Georgia,andHouston, Texas.[4]Upon announcement, each team also announced their first player or players (all of whom have won Olympic medals), dubbed their "founding athletes"; Atlanta announcedFabiana ClaudinoandKelsey Robinson-Cook,and Houston announcedMicha HancockandJordan Thompson.[4]On April 27, a team was added inMadison, Wisconsinwith founding athleteLauren Carlini.[5]On June 5, the fourth city was announced asSalt Lake City, Utah,led by founding athletesJordyn PoulterandHaleigh Washington.[6]On August 16,Omaha, Nebraskawas announced as the fifth host city with founding athletesJordan LarsonandJustine Wong-Orantes.[7]In December, the league announced it would be building a dedicated training facility for LOVB Madison and area LOVB youth squads in the Madison suburb ofSun Prairie.[8]A week later, the league announced its final city asAustin, Texas,with founding athleteCarli Lloyd.[9]
Inaugural season
editOn May 9, 2024, LOVB andESPNannounced an international media rights agreement that would see 10 matches broadcast on ESPN networks and an additional 18 streamed onESPN+for the 2025 season.[10]Team venues and schedules for the 2025 season were announced on July 18.[11]
The 2025 season will feature four matches per week; a single head-to-head match and a homestand-style "Weekend with LOVB", where one team will host two others for three total matches. An in-season tournament, the LOVB Classic, will be held alongside the Triple Crown NIT youth invitational in February inKansas City, Missouri,with the finals held in April.[11]
Teams
edit
LOVB teams do not have traditional team names, and instead compete as "LOVB" followed by the city name.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOVB Atlanta | College Park, Georgia | Gateway Center Arena | 3,500 | 2025 |
| LOVB Austin | Austin, Texas | H-E-B Center Strahan Arena |
8,700 10,000 |
2025 |
| LOVB Houston | Rosenberg, Texas | Fort Bend Epicenter | 10,000 | 2025 |
| LOVB Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | Wisconsin Field House Alliant Energy Center |
7,540 7,432 |
2025 |
| LOVB Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska | Liberty First Credit Union Arena Baxter Arena |
4,600 7,898 |
2025 |
| LOVB Salt Lake | Salt Lake City, Utah | Lifetime Activities Center Maverik Center |
5,000 12,500 |
2025 |
Sponsorship and funding
editOn September 28, 2022, LOVB raised $16.75 million in aSeries A funding round,headlined byBillie Jean KingandKevin Durant.[12]A year later, LOVB raised $35 million in aSeries B roundled byLindsey Vonn,Jayson Tatum,andCandace Parker.[13]
On June 17, 2024, LOVB andAdidassigned an apparel partnership that would make Adidas the uniform supplier of LOVB Pro.[14]Two days later, LOVB announced a partnership withSpanx,the apparel brand's first sports partnership, to provide apparel and support league initiatives for LOVB's youth and professional circuits.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"USA Volleyball and League One Volleyball Announce Partnership".USA Volleyball.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
- ^Pimental, Joseph (March 11, 2023)."Are you ready for some volleyball? A new women's pro league hopes the answer is yes".Spectrum News.
- ^Chappell, Bill (October 19, 2021)."Are you ready for some volleyball? A new women's pro league hopes the answer is yes".NPR.
- ^ab"LOVB, eyeing 2024 pro volleyball season, announces Atlanta and Houston locations".Volleyballmag.March 9, 2023.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Jacques, Mike; Nijhawan, Shaina (April 27, 2023)."Professional volleyball coming to Madison".WMTV-TV.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Page, Jared (June 5, 2023)."LOVB invites Salt Lake City to host new pro women's volleyball team".Gephardt Daily.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
- ^Krueger, Adam (August 16, 2023)."Omaha named new team in League One Volleyball".KMTV-TV.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
- ^Jacobs, Kylie (December 4, 2023)."LOVB Madison to open first pro facility; announce first pro player".WMTV-TV.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Jones, Kimberley (December 11, 2023)."A New Women's Pro Volleyball League Is Launching in Austin in 2024".The Austin Chronicle.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
- ^Cahillane, Mollie (May 9, 2024)."League One Volleyball signs media deal with ESPN ahead of debut".Sports Business Journal.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
- ^abFeinswog, Lee (July 18, 2024)."League One Volleyball announces 2025 pro venues, six-team schedule".Volleyballmag.RetrievedJuly 25,2024.
- ^Smith, Chris (September 28, 2022)."League One Volleyball looks to accelerate growth after Series A funding round".Sports Business Journal.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Feldman, Jacob (September 27, 2023)."League One Volleyball Raises $35 Million to Serve Growing Fanbase".Sportico.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Pelit, Asli (June 17, 2024)."Adidas, League One Volleyball Ink Multiyear Partnership".Sportico.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
- ^Hendriksz, Vivian (June 19, 2024)."Spanx partners with League One Volleyball to support young volleyball players".FashionUnited.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.