Major League Volleyball (MLV), a new professional women’s volleyball league, will launch in January 2026 with a minimum of 10 teams from across the United States. The league is supported by more than $100 million in committed funding.
The Omaha Supernovas will be the league’s founding franchise, and other initial teams will be in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, Ohio and Washington. Franchises will be independently owned and adhere to MLV’s standards and operational playbooks.
Major League Volleyball aims to create a premier professional pathway for women’s volleyball, emphasizing grassroots development, athlete empowerment, and fan engagement. The league aspires to be the top women’s pro sports league in the U.S., offering elite competition and rivalries, excellent medical and training support, top venues, and major broadcast partnerships.
Founding partners of Major League Volleyball include:
- Danny White: Founder of Omaha Supernovas and entrepreneur in multiple sectors
- Vivek Ranadivé: Owner of the Sacramento Kings and MLV’s Sacramento franchise
- Jason Derulo: International artist and partner in the Omaha Supernovas
- Kerri Walsh Jennings: Three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist
- Benjamin Priest: Founder of Won Group and former Formula 1 executive
Supporting agencies include Someone Great, led by Mitch Grossbach, who is spearheading partnerships and franchise development with business partner Walsh Jennings; Talisman, a global sports marketing agency, and marketing agency Hurrdat.
Major League Volleyball will capitalize on volleyball’s global popularity and recent successes. Volleyball is the top high school team sport for girls in the U.S. and has seen significant growth in boys participation. On the collegiate side, there has been a massive growth in NIL compensation for women’s volleyball athletes, and viewers watched 1.3 billion minutes of action during the 2024 NCAA Championship.
MLV Media Contacts
Joan Lukas, Lukas Partners
MLV News Media Liaison
[email protected]
Kristen Crawford, Lukas Partners
MLV News Media Liaison
[email protected]