• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Volleyball Is Having a Moment—and the Pro League Space Is Crowding

  • The Professional Volleyball Federation debuts in Omaha on Wednesday night.
  • Later this year, League One Volleyball will launch. And Athletes Unlimited has been around for three years.
The Columbus Dispatch

A new professional volleyball league launches on Wednesday night, capitalizing on the rampant growth of women’s sports in the U.S. But in this growing space, they’re hardly alone.

The Pro Volleyball Federation will hit the court with seven teams competing against each other in a four-month regular season, followed by a four-team playoff to crown the season’s champion. It shouldn’t be surprising that the PVF’s first match is taking place in Omaha—in nearby Lincoln, Nebraska’s women’s volleyball team set the attendance record for a women’s sports event with 90,003 fans at the Cornhuskers’ football stadium last August. The Omaha Supernovas will be playing at the 18,000-seat CHI Health Center, which is home to Creighton basketball and has hosted NCAA tournament matches in basketball and volleyball. 

Select PVF matches will be shown on CBS Sports Network, while others will be streamed by OTT platforms Stadium and Bally Live. Beyond those media rights deals, the values of which have not been disclosed, the PVF also has a partnership with USA Volleyball—the national governing body—and deals with staple volleyball brands like Franklin and Spalding. On the ownership front, the PVF has notable investors like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and music star Jason Derulo.

Is Consolidation Needed?

The PVF won’t be the only new pro volleyball league launching this year. In November, League One Volleyball (LOVB) is set to debut, with franchises in at least six markets—two of which overlap with the PVF: Omaha and Atlanta. LOVB has raised $35 million from key investors like Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, and Ares Management Funds. Meanwhile, Athletes Unlimited Volleyball has been operating since 2021, albeit with a different model that sees players switch teams each week and matches played at a single location.

Volleyball is certainly hot right now, particularly on the college level. In December, the Texas-Nebraska NCAA women’s volleyball national championship averaged a record 1.69 million viewers on ABC. And there’s clearly an appetite among sports power brokers to take advantage of the pro level, as seen by the various new leagues. But if the offerings are oversaturating the market, organizers may ultimately need to consider joining forces, much like the merger in women’s hockey last summer that led to a so-far-successful launch of the PWHL.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

U.K. Appoints New Soccer Regulator, EPL Matches Stay Behind Paywall

Men’s soccer in England will receive new levels of oversight.

Jokić Declined a Contract Extension, but the Nuggets Shouldn’t Panic

Jokić still has three years remaining on his current contract.
Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.

Has the WNBA Outgrown the Matinee Madness of Camp Days?

Caitlin Clark will return from injury in a Wednesday noon game.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg speaks to the media during a press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Practice Facility.
July 8, 2025

Cooper Flagg–Bronny James Summer League Tickets Average $201

The average purchase price on resale platform TickPick is $201.
Jul 8, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC forward Pedro Neto (7) applauds fans after a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
July 9, 2025

Trump to Attend Club World Cup Final

Chelsea will face Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Breanna Stewart
July 8, 2025

WNBA Players Call League Proposal For Fixed Salary Cap Inadequate  

The league’s collective bargaining agreement expires in less than four months.
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Dana White (left) during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
July 7, 2025

UFC Confirms Talks to Bring Fight to White House Grounds

Discussions are underway to bring a UFC event to the White House grounds.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.
July 4, 2025

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”
Michael Johnson
July 3, 2025

Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source

The new track league hasn’t paid athletes in full yet.