Sports
LA Is Getting Its Own Major League Volleyball Team
Major League Volleyball announced Tuesday it will launch a Los Angeles franchise.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Major League Volleyball announced Tuesday it will launch a Los Angeles franchise in 2027, expanding the league's national footprint with a team backed by billionaire entrepreneur and Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong.
The Los Angeles franchise will be led by Soon-Shiong as majority owner and founder, alongside Ben Priest, who will serve as governor and managing partner, according to the league.
Major League Volleyball officials said the Los Angeles expansion is part of broader efforts to grow professional women's volleyball in the United States ahead of the league's fourth season in 2027.
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"This is about building more than a team; it is about building a lasting platform for the future of women's professional sports," Soon-Shiong said in a statement. "Los Angeles gives us a unique opportunity to bring together elite competition, advanced technology, media innovation, and world- class infrastructure in a way that can redefine the future of professional volleyball."
The league also announced that Alisha Childress, an Olympian and three- time NCAA champion, will become the franchise's first head of competition and head coach.
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"Los Angeles deserves a pro volleyball franchise that reflects the ambition, diversity, and energy of this city," Childress said. "Our goal is to build a world-class environment where elite athletes can compete, grow, and inspire the next generation."
League officials said the franchise will operate out of the expanding NantWorks campus in El Segundo, which will serve as a hub for team operations, administration and athlete performance.
Major League Volleyball Commissioner Jaime Weston said Los Angeles was selected because of its strong volleyball culture, sports infrastructure and entertainment ties.
"Adding Los Angeles is an important step in the growth of Major League Volleyball and our long-term vision for the sport in the United States," Weston said.
The organization said the team's official name, branding and inaugural marketing campaign will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
More information can be found here.
City News Service
