Despite being one of the leading nations for women’s volleyball, and even winning olympic gold in 2020, the US has yet to create a professional league. That is, until now. In November of 2020 the Pro Volleyball Federation announced the arrival of the first ever US pro women’s volleyball league, an arrival that has finally graced volleyball fans with its presence earlier this year.
The History of Elite Volleyball
Up until now, elite volleyball players would have to travel overseas if they wished to compete at a professional level, past their collegiate careers. The closest thing that these athletes had to a “level up” from collegiate volleyball was joining the USA national team, which is highly selective, and offers only a limited number of spots on their roster.
So why is it that only now a professional women’s volleyball league is being introduced in the US?
It basically comes down to sponsors, viewer count, fan attendance games, and overall interest in the sport. It was only until very recently that the sport of volleyball experienced a sudden boom in popularity.
In November of 2023, Nebraska women’s volleyball set a record for the most people in attendance at a women’s sports game, hosting over 90,000 fans. Out of every single NCAA sport, women’s volleyball now holds third place for attendance records, right behind men’s football and hockey. It is clear that the volleyball community is growing rapidly, and with that comes a demand for more higher level ball.
Diving into the 2024 Season
In 2024, the Pro Volleyball Federation is proud to introduce 7 teams, with plans of adding 3 more in the 2025 sophomore season. The current teams are as follows:
- Omaha SuperNovas
- Atlanta Vibe
- Vegas Thrill
- San Diego Mojo
- Orlando Valkyries
- Columbus Fury
- Grand Rapids Rise
These teams will compete with each other regularly during the 4 month season. The season will conclude with a play-off consisting of four final teams, only one of which earning the title of the first ever Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) league champion!
Meet the Ballers
All seven of the team’s rosters are stacked with only the nation’s greatest volleyballers. These players have won national collegiate championships, played pro overseas, and even some winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo olympics. Needless to say, every player apart from the PVF is an absolute BALLER. However, like any sport, some stand out a little more than others.
Here are some of noteworthy players quite literally “serving” this season:
Jill Gillan: Standing at just 5’7 Jill Gillan is the shortest outside hitter in the league. However, do not overlook her small size as she is able to make some BIG plays. For reference, the average collegiate outside hitter stands at 5’11 to 6’2. Gillan paves the way for short hitters by finding crafty ways to tool through her opponents blocks, and finding open spots that leave defenders clueless. Gillan currently plays for the Orlando Valkyries.
Morgan Hentz: In Morgan Hentz we find the exact opposite of a short hitter- a tall libero. Standing at 5’9, Hentz broke records at Stanford, setting a school record of over 2,000 digs in her collegiate career. Hentz’s height and limb length gives her an advantage over shorter defenders, as her long arms allow her to cover more court on defense and get to more balls without the use of excessive diving. Hentz has also played for the USA national women’s team and can now be found sporting an Atlanta Vibe jersey.
Asjia O’Neal: Standing at 6 ‘3 O’Neal is easily one of the best middle blockers of her generation. Just after leading her Texas to a back to back national NCAA championship with a game winning ace against Nebraska, Asjia O’Neal was drafted the first round of the season, quickly picked up by Columbus Fury.
The Future of Pro Volleyball
Now, what will the volleyball community have to do to keep this league going? Well, according to Tyler Webb, a sports business content creator, “in order for a new league to have any chance of succeeding it has to check three major boxes. Strong initial funding, accessibility for viewers, and media exposure”. The league already has over 150 million dollars by its equity holders (strong initial funding), and partnerships with CBS Sports (viewer accessibility). However media exposure and genuine interest in the game can only be sourced from the fans. Together, the volleyball community can continue to grow the love for a sport that has inspired so many, and connect players throughout the world.
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