Professional volleyball coming to Madison

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Madison, with the Badgers leading the way, has been crazy about volleyball for a while now. Things aren’t going to change anytime soon, especially with a big announcement on Wednesday.

League One Volleyball (LOVB), which is the first professional full season volleyball League in the United States, announced Thursday that Madison will be home to one of its teams.

“When we were looking for our next pro team location, it was clear Madison was it,” said Katlyn Gao, co-founder and CEO of LOVB. “The market has everything we’re looking for - record breaking crowds, off the charts talent and passion that can’t be manufactured. It’s like capturing lightning in the bottle and by laying down roots here in the right way, LOVB will not only have the opportunity to help much deserved athletes carve out a whole new path to pro, but become the anchor as we bring together fervent volleyball communities during this watershed era for women’s volleyball.”

Former volleyball player and coach Stacy Weiner passed her love for the game on to her two daughters. She looks forward to the impact the new team could have on our youth.

“I think it’s going to be such a great opportunity for these young ladies to see how the level of volleyball can be played, and being involved in the team sports is such a positive atmosphere, and the mentors that they will have around them is just, you know, the sky’s the limit,” Weiner said. “I mean volleyball is such a huge sport right now but I think along with the UW Badgers close to us but adding this is just going to take volleyball in our area to another level in itself.”

The league announced that Madison will not only be home to its professional team in the region, but a new, state-of-the-art pro training program facility will also be developed in partnership with the Madison Juniors club. The pro players will train along with the club players at the facility.

“Women’s volleyball is not a pastime in Madison – it’s a passion. Thousands of people cheer the top-ranked Badgers; our local teams have intense rivalries; and our local players move on to top programs around the country,” said Jamie Patrick, Vice President of the Madison Area Sports Commission. “We are stoked that LOVB has chosen Madison as the Midwestern home of one of the league’s new pro teams. The level of competition will inspire our local fanbase and further cement Madison as a top market for volleyball, from local tournaments to collegiate championships to pro matches.”

The league plans to begin play in 2024.

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