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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 20, 2026) — USA Volleyball announced today that Cassidy Lichtman has been elected chair of its Board of Directors, bringing her experience as a player, leader, and advocate for athlete empowerment to the organization’s top governance role. Lichtman, one of the sport’s most respected female leaders, underscores the organization’s commitment to elevating athlete voices in governance and shaping its long-term strategy.
Lichtman currently serves as Vice President of Volleyball and Athlete Engagement for Athletes Unlimited, where she was a founding member of the league’s professional volleyball division. She competed in the league’s first two seasons and served as chair of the Volleyball Player Executive Committee, helping establish an athlete-driven leadership model in which players help shape decisions around competition format, venues, policies, and community impact initiatives.
“It is a profound honor to serve USA Volleyball in this new capacity,” Lichtman said. “Throughout my career, I have seen how powerful the athlete’s perspective can be when it’s fully integrated into leadership. I’m excited to work alongside the board to ensure everyone in our sport, from the grassroots to the Olympic and Paralympic podiums, feels supported, heard and empowered to lead.”
A former member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Lichtman represented the U.S. in international competition and is widely respected for her impact both on and off the court. She was a two-time All-American and Academic All-American at Stanford University, where she began using her platform to speak about the power of the athlete voice and the responsibility athletes have to lead on issues that matter in their communities.
“Cassidy brings an exceptional blend of collaborative leadership, strategic vision, and dedication to athlete advocacy,” said John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “Her leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to inspire and empower athletes, strengthen our volleyball community, and support success and well-being at every level.”
On July 1, 2026, Lichtman will help guide USA Volleyball’s strategic direction, oversee governance initiatives, and support continued growth in participation, performance and inclusion across all disciplines of the sport. A key focus of her leadership will be ensuring athletes have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect them on and off the court.
Advocating for athlete voice has been a defining theme throughout Lichtman’s career. Her work includes helping launch Athletes Unlimited’s Power in My Voice initiative and contributing thought leadership on how athletes can use their platforms to advance equity, representation, and civic engagement. She is also the founder of PATH, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching empathy, equity and empowerment through sport, and previously worked with shift7 on initiatives addressing inclusion and economic inequality.
Lichtman was the first athlete to serve on the Athletes Unlimited Board of Directors and in 2022, Adweek named her one of its Most Powerful Women in Sports, recognizing both her athletic career and her leadership in shaping the future of sport.
USA Volleyball also recognizes outgoing Board Chair Dave Gentile for his leadership and service. Gentile has served as chair since 2021 and will continue in the role through July 2026 to support a smooth transition. During his tenure, USA Volleyball strengthened its governance practices and advanced key strategic priorities across the Olympic, Paralympic and grassroots levels of the sport.