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.
MLV 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.
MLV founding partners include:
Danny White: Founder of Omaha Supernovas and entrepreneur in multiple sectors
Vivek Ranadivé: Owner of the NBA franchise Sacramento Kings and MLV’s Sacramento team
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.
MLV 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.
