Loads of individuals are making an attempt to capitalize on the recognition of ladies’s sports activities proper now.
The , thanks partly to the rise of celebrity Caitlin Clark.
The NWSL simply signed in sports activities historical past.
Final yr, the (PVF) launched a league with seven groups, with an eighth becoming a member of the fray in 2025, and two extra coming on-line in 2026.
Now, the skilled volleyball scene is about to get a bit extra crowded.
TOM D’ANGELO:
Except for the PVF beginning its second season in January, a brand new league — League One Volleyball — is also beginning up after the brand new yr.
There are some energy brokers behind this new league, that has pledged.
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, basketball stars Candace Parker and Kevin Durant, and entertainers Amy Schumer and Chelsea Handler, amongst others, have invested a mixed $60 million within the new league, that may characteristic groups in Atlanta, Houston, Salt Lake Metropolis, Austin (Texas), Madison (Wisconsin) and Omaha (Nebraska).
There’s some overlap with the PVF, as each have groups in Atlanta and Omaha. The PVF additionally has groups in Columbus, Grand Rapids (Michigan), San Diego and Las Vegas, with a brand new workforce in Indianapolis starting play in 2025. Groups in Dallas and Kansas Metropolis will begin play in 2026.
Should you’re questioning why a smaller market like Omaha may have two groups, it’s as a result of the College of Nebraska has been one of many high school volleyball packages for many years.
Texas, Stanford, Penn State and USC are additionally conventional school volleyball powers.
In its inaugural season, the PVF had an total of round 400,000, with every workforce taking part in 22 common season video games. That’s increasing to twenty-eight this yr.
Match streams on YouTube reached 3.9 million viewers.
The , which consisted of 5 rounds and 40 gamers.
With a second league beginning up, it might splinter a number of the attendance and viewership.
Nonetheless, the PVF just lately acquired an enormous increase. The league has signed a two-year media rights extension cope with CBS. Followers will see as much as 20 matches from the league air on CBS Sports activities Community subsequent season, up from 10 matches in its inaugural season.
Nonetheless, , whereas the overwhelming majority of PVF matches throughout its inaugural season have been streamed reside on YouTube, one thing that may reportedly proceed in 2025, the league is also working with two extra media companions that might be introduced previous to the 2025 season.
Getting began a yr early will give the PVF a bonus, however its new competitor, League One Volleyball, branded as LOVB and pronounced “LOVE,” might rise to prominence because of massive star energy.
It makes you marvel, if each leagues discover success, might a future merger be a chance?
Each leagues will play the faculty volleyball-style 6-on-6. Each characteristic former school stars, in addition to some former Olympians and different stars from nations across the globe.
Already pledged to LOVB are 17 Olympians, together with 10 members of the 2024 silver medal-winning Staff USA.
The PVF in its first season featured 110 gamers from 10 totally different nations, had a minimal participant wage that was a minimum of $60,000 for the season, with some gamers incomes as a lot as $125,000, with many gamers incomes bonus cash as effectively.
For individuals who have by no means watched a university or professional volleyball, it’s one of the vital orchestrated sports activities you’ll ever see.
The technique and athleticism of those rivals is nothing wanting exceptional.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to comply with each leagues as they get their seasons stepping into 2025.
If all goes effectively, perhaps a league-vs.-league rivalry might kind, finally culminating in a merger, not not like when the ABA and NBA merged, or the AFC and NFC, amongst different professional leagues.
Extra folks than ever might be watching professional volleyball this season.
It is one other constructive step ahead for skilled girls’s sports activities.