Women’s Pro Volleyball League Announces 100 Million Dollars in New Funding

League One Volleyball (LOVB) is at the forefront of women’s sports, which continue growing to previously unheard-of heights. LOVB announced a remarkable $100 million in additional funding from Atwater Capital, Ares Management, and Left Lane Capital ahead of its professional league debut on January 8, 2025. The league now has over $160 million in funding overall, an incredible amount for a brand-new professional sports league.

Some of the biggest personalities in entertainment and sports have contributed to LOVB’s most recent round of funding. Supporters of the league include Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn, 14-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, comedian Amy Schumer, and seven-time WNBA All-Star Candace Parker. Durant, who has always supported women’s athletics, also makes investments in the NWSL and Athletes Unlimited.

This financial infusion coincides with a significant turning point in women’s sports history. A well-known supporter of gender parity in sports, businesswoman Michele Kang has promised U.S. Soccer $30 million. Her words are in line with those of Katlyn Gao, co-founder and CEO of LOVB, who stated, “Don’t you think it’s about time?”

There is no better time than now. The expansion of women’s sports is exploding. Over the next three years, WNBA and NWSL franchise valuations are expected to increase by $1.6 billion, according to a recent report from The Collective. The desire for volleyball is obvious. A recent NCAA game at Nebraska attracted 92,000 spectators, demonstrating the sport’s potential, and over 400,000 females play in the United States.

What distinguishes LOVB is its grassroots approach. With 14,000 athletes already in the works and 66 volleyball club locations spread over 26 states, LOVB wants to create a long-lasting professional league from the bottom up.

The dominant men’s indoor volleyball league is not a problem for LOVB, in contrast to many other professional sports leagues. The organization can choose its course thanks to this independence. Gao declared, “We are starting a movement that can support a professional league.” “We’ve always relied on grassroots connections, and this funding is just another indication that we’re doing something right.” Olympic medalists Jordan Larson and Justine Wong-Orantes will be among the athletes joining the six-team league when it begins play in January.

The success of LOVB fits into a larger pattern. Women’s sports are receiving more social and financial backing, as seen by ground-breaking investments and attendance records that show their unrealized potential. According to Gao, “despite 20 years of Olympic medals, there was no sustainable major league for women’s indoor volleyball, despite volleyball being an incredibly popular sport across the country.”

Women’s sports are not only here to stay, but are poised to flourish, as demonstrated by League One volleyball. LOVB is paving the way for a revolutionary period in professional volleyball and beyond with substantial funding, creative tactics, and a dedication to grassroots growth.