Key Takeaways
- LOVB San Francisco will debut in January 2027 as the league’s ninth franchise, alongside expansions in Los Angeles and Minnesota
- The ownership group is backed by over 20 women leaders including Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe, three-time Olympic volleyball medalist Kelsey Robinson Cook, and Bay FC co-founders Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain, and Danielle Slaton
- LOVB now operates more than 92 club locations nationally with over 30,000 athletes participating in the 8-18 age range
- The Bay Area ranks among the strongest regions in the U.S. for volleyball participation and elite competition at high school and collegiate levels
- LOVB’s professional league launched in January 2025 with six teams, with a second season starting January 7, 2026
League One Volleyball announced its third expansion franchise on December 18, adding LOVB San Francisco to a growing roster that will reach nine teams by 2027. The announcement continues the league’s geographic expansion into markets with established volleyball infrastructure and demonstrates the appeal of women’s professional volleyball to high-profile investors.
Bay Area Joins 2027 Expansion Class
LOVB San Francisco will launch in January 2027 alongside LOVB Los Angeles and LOVB Minnesota, bringing the professional league to nine teams in its third season. The Bay Area franchise represents the league’s strategic focus on West Coast markets, building on existing teams in Salt Lake and the recent Los Angeles announcement.
LOVB President Rosie Spaulding noted the Bay Area has been on the league’s expansion radar since inception, citing strong participation rates and elite competition at youth and collegiate levels. The region’s volleyball infrastructure includes consistent production of high school talent and multiple NCAA Division I programs.
The timing aligns with broader momentum in Bay Area women’s sports. Spaulding referenced the Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural WNBA season as evidence of sustained fan interest and market viability for women’s professional leagues in the region.
Women-Led Ownership Group Spans Sports and Business
The LOVB San Francisco ownership group includes more than 20 investors spanning professional athletics, media, and entrepreneurship. The roster features multiple Olympic medalists across volleyball, swimming, soccer, track and field, and rowing.
Key investors include:
- Jes Wolfe, Chairwoman and CEO of Rebel Girls
- Kelsey Robinson Cook, three-time Olympic volleyball medalist who was the first player to commit to LOVB and led Atlanta to a league-best 13-3 record in the inaugural season
- Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain, and Danielle Slaton, co-founders of Bay FC (NWSL)
- Abby Wambach, soccer icon and New York Times bestselling author
- Natalie Coughlin, 12-time Olympic swimming medalist
- Alix Klineman and Lindsey Napela Berg, Olympic volleyball medalists
- Chantell Preston, serial entrepreneur and women’s investment advocate
- Amy Banse, Mosaic Venture Partner and Unrivaled investor
Additional investors include entrepreneur Ali Riley, broadcaster Arielle Chambers, author Glennon Doyle, Olympic runner Alysia Montaño, and multiple Bay Area executives and former professional athletes.
“This ownership group represents everything LOVB stands for, women leading with vision, intention, and a deep belief in what’s possible when we invest in each other,” Spaulding said in a statement. “These leaders have broken barriers in boardrooms, on the court, and across culture.”
Robinson Cook Returns to Leadership Role
Kelsey Robinson Cook’s involvement brings direct competitive credibility to the San Francisco franchise. Cook was the first player to commit to LOVB and led Atlanta to the best regular season record (13-3) in the league’s inaugural season. Her three Olympic medals span multiple cycles, establishing her as one of the most decorated American volleyball players.
“Being part of the founding of LOVB has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cook said in a statement. “Helping launch LOVB San Francisco feels like the next chapter in that same purpose-driven journey.”
Cook emphasized the franchise’s goal to create infrastructure for player development from youth levels through professional competition. “I can’t wait to help cultivate a home where athletes, fans and future Olympians feel seen, supported, and inspired, and where volleyball is celebrated at the highest level,” she said.
Youth Pipeline Anchors League Model
LOVB’s structure integrates youth development with professional competition. The organization now spans more than 92 club locations nationally with over 30,000 athletes participating in the 8-18 age range. This youth-first approach launched in 2020, four years before the professional league debuted.
The professional league completed its inaugural season in 2025 with six teams: Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska (formerly Omaha), and Salt Lake. LOVB Austin swept LOVB Nebraska 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 in the championship match, with opposite hitter Madisen Skinner earning Finals MVP honors.
Season two begins January 7, 2026, with the same six-team format before expanding to nine teams in 2027. The expansion timeline gives new markets over a year to build operational infrastructure, secure venues, and establish local youth programming connections.
West Coast Footprint Takes Shape
The addition of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Minnesota creates a nine-team league with strengthened West Coast presence. Current teams are concentrated in the South (Atlanta, Austin, Houston), Midwest (Madison, Nebraska, Minnesota), and West (Salt Lake, Los Angeles, San Francisco).
The geographic distribution reflects LOVB’s assessment of volleyball participation density and market readiness. The Bay Area’s selection aligns with data showing the region as one of the strongest in the country for volleyball at both youth and collegiate levels.
The Los Angeles franchise, announced earlier this year and founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, will also debut in 2027. Together with Salt Lake, the three West Coast franchises create regional competition opportunities and reduce travel demands compared to the current six-team configuration.
Strategic Implications for Women’s Professional Volleyball
LOVB’s expansion to nine teams over three seasons demonstrates measured growth in a competitive landscape for women’s professional sports investment. The league’s integration of youth development with professional operations differentiates its business model from leagues launching solely at the professional level.
The San Francisco ownership group’s composition reflects trends in women’s sports investment, with former athletes taking operational and governance roles rather than passive investor positions. The group includes founders, executives, and media figures who bring expertise beyond capital.
The Bay Area market test will provide data on whether regions with strong volleyball participation and recent success in women’s professional basketball can support professional volleyball. The franchise launches into an environment with established fan bases for women’s sports, multiple professional teams, and demonstrated corporate sponsorship appetite.
via: SBJ | USA Today
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