What is going on with professional volleyball in the USA?

PVF, LOVB, and AU; oh my?

Professional volleyball in the United States is currently in a unique phase. For years, American players had no options to play professionally domestically, often having to seek opportunities overseas or retire. However, significant changes began in the 2020s, with the emergence of Athletes Unlimited and the behind-the-scenes formations of League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). As we approach the summer of 2024, the landscape will feature three professional volleyball organizations in the USA for the 2024/25 season.

Having multiple leagues raises questions about the future of volleyball in the USA. It could be seen as a sort of revolution for the sport. The popularity of volleyball at the NCAA level has reached unprecedented levels, and it appears that professional ventures aim to capitalize on or build upon this popularity. It could also be a downfall as resources are being spread across multiple ideas, rather than one combined effort.

Questions & Answers

Why are there three volleyball leagues?

This question is complex, but to simplify: USA Volleyball has opted not to take direct control of the professional leagues. Instead, independent business ventures have emerged, each with its own plans and visions for building a professional volleyball system in the USA. These differing ideas have led to the existence of three separate leagues rather than a single combined effort, each with distinct formats, ideals, and visions.

Athletes Unlimited, while not a traditional professional league, offers a unique and potentially "fun" and "unconventional" approach to volleyball, akin to ventures like World Team Tennis for WTA players. In contrast, PVF and LOVB represent more traditional league structures and are direct competitors in that sense.

PVF follows the typical American sports franchise model, with independent team owners controlling and financing their teams under one league umbrella. On the other hand, LOVB takes a different approach, initially managing teams itself while aiming to establish connections between youth and professional players, akin to models seen overseas. The differing financial models of these leagues make a joint venture improbable, as both seek financial success through their respective approaches.

USA Volleyball has taken a back seat, allowing capitalism to drive the development of professional volleyball in the USA through these independent ventures. It is common for just about every other professional league in the world that their country’s federation plays a role in the management of the league.

Will the seasons overlap?

Athletes Unlimited is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2024, it will not overlap with either LOVB or PVF. While it appears that players from either league may be welcome to participate in AU, this has not been officially confirmed. PVF players participated in AU last fall (2023).

LOVB and PVF, however, will overlap, as both leagues aim to start in the winter of 2024. LOVB has set its dates from November 2024 until April 2025. Although PVF has not finalized its dates, it is likely to fall within the same time frame. Players will not be able to compete in both leagues simultaneously.

What is the difference in pay?

This question is straightforward to address for PVF, but less so for LOVB.

PVF has established a minimum base pay of $60,000 for all players. For the 2024/25 season, they plan to implement increases up to $175,000 for select players, while others may earn more than the $60,000 minimum (PVF will likely clarify specifics for this after the current season ends). Additionally, there are bonus prize incentives for positional awards and a $1 million prize to be distributed among the championship-winning team.

LOVB's salary guidelines remain unclear, as the league has not made any public announcements. Kelsey Robinson-Cook mentioned on a podcast that there will be tiers of base pay determined by a player's position and experience level.

What are the streaming/media partners?

Athletes Unlimited has partnered with ESPN, and their matches in 2024 will be broadcasted on ESPNU and ESPN+, with the possibility of being "upgraded" based on availability.

PVF has secured partnerships with CBS Sports Network in a multi-year deal. CBSSN will broadcast multiple matches on their network in 2025 as well as one match on CBS. It seems that some matches will be streamed on Youtube as well.

LOVB will broadcast a portion of their matches on ESPN’s networks. This includes their linear channels (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU) as well as on ESPN+, their streaming service. It has not been announced where the remainder of their matches will be streamed or televised.

How does each league obtain their players?

All three leagues have signed their players via free agency. AU and LOVB have both exclusively utilized free agency for the upcoming season.

PVF has predominantly relied on free agency for acquiring players. However, in their current season, they introduced a draft for players who have completed their NCAA careers. The PVF draft will become an annual event for NCAA graduates, with the next draft scheduled to be completed before 2025. Additionally, PVF has facilitated trades between teams and has been open to signing or releasing players as needed. Throughout the season, PVF teams have made various player cuts, subsequently filling those spots with other players.

LOVB (Tom Hogan) announced that they will not incorporate a draft into their system. Furthermore, LOVB will refrain from releasing players from their teams except in cases of injury, where replacements will be signed accordingly. Players that are signed to the league will remain with the league and their contract honored.

Why are the national team players signing with LOVB?

Answering this definitively would require asking the players themselves. However, from an external viewpoint, it's reasonable to speculate that they resonate with LOVB's mission/vision. It's also plausible to assume that they would be drawn to the opportunity to compete with or against each other, potentially attracting more national team players (and international players) to LOVB. Additionally, LOVB began signing players for the 2024-2025 season earlier than PVF did. LOVB began this process several months ago, revealing national players as early as June 2023. It's uncertain how far along PVF is in signing players for the upcoming season. CEO Jen Spicher stated that teams will not be allowed to sign players from competing PVF teams until July 2024.

Which cities will they be playing in?

In 2025, PVF will play in 8 cities with 8 teams, featuring Atlanta, Omaha, Grand Rapids, Columbus, Orlando, San Diego, Las Vegas, as well as one new team in Indianapolis.

LOVB will be present in six cities with six teams, including Atlanta, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Madison, Houston, and Austin.

Omaha is a city that makes sense for an overlap, given their passion for volleyball. Atlanta is an interesting case since their support for the Vibe has fluctuated and has historically been low for their WNBA team. LOVB club A5 is a large youth club based in the Atlanta area.

Are the league structures similar?

Both PVF and LOVB will feature "traditional" league formats.

PVF implements a schedule where teams compete against each other both home and away. Standings are determined by their win-loss records. The top four teams (for the 2024 season) will qualify for the playoffs, which consist of single-elimination matches where the winner takes all.

LOVB will adopt a similar format, with teams facing each other in a standard league setup. However, they will implement a unique schedule featuring neutral site matches. LOVB has designed this system to be fan-friendly (per Tom Hogan), offering more matches at one location over the course of a weekend for fans who wish to attend. From an external perspective, this may also serve as a cost-cutting measure. LOVB will also feature a single-elimination playoff, with all six teams participating. Additionally, LOVB will host a cup tournament called the "LOVB Classic," where all six teams will compete in Kansas City for the title.

How is each league funded?

Both leagues (PVF and LOVB) are funded by private investors. PVF has investors who have contributed funds to the league, and team owners who have invested funds into their teams, along with other investors and sponsors.

LOVB is also funded by investors, although it is less clear how this operates within their organization. LOVB has stated that their professional and club ventures are entirely separate and will not fund each other.

What rules will each league be using?

Both PVF and LOVB will be using loosely interpreted international FIVB rules.

PVF is using international rules with the exception that they allow for eight substitutes instead of six.

For LOVB, Tom Hogan stated they will be using international/FIVB rules, but is open to some flexibility.

PVF uses a Franklin-branded ball. LOVB will be using a Mikasa brand ball, which is the international FIVB standard.

Will they participate in the Club World Championships?

That is a bit unknown. The Club World Championships (CWCh) typically take place in December. As of now, LOVB and PVF will not be playing matches during that time period. If they were to enter, they’d put themselves at a disadvantage compared to teams who have already been playing for weeks. There is also the issue that there is no North American club championship. NORCECA would have to organize a competition I would assume, since there are also teams in Puerto Rico (along with amateur/semi-professional teams throughout other North American countries).