ATLANTA, Ga. (August 5, 2025) – In a landmark move for the sport, Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and Major League Volleyball have announced plans for a single, united league poised to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States. The unified league will be branded as MLV, having the Atlanta Vibe continuing its third season in the newly branded league.
Colleen Craig continues to own the franchise for this upcoming season. Craig states, “We’re proud that the Atlanta Vibe continues to be at the forefront of this growth, and we look forward to building on the momentum of the past two seasons to help shape the future of the sport in the U.S.”
MLV will be the longest-running professional women’s volleyball league and the only one operating with independently owned teams in-market, alongside a league structure built to resemble those at the pinnacle of sports.
The league will feature the following team lineup for 2026: Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando, and San Diego. In 2027, the league is currently slated to expand with two more franchises with the addition of teams in Washington DC and Northern California, who will use ’26 to introduce fans to the league in advance of the inaugural seasons.
The 2026 season will commence later this week, with the opening of the free agency signing period on Thursday, August 7 at 5 pm ET. At that time, teams will begin to construct their rosters in the hopes of capturing the MLV Championship. The league has several exciting subsequent announcements planned in the future, including season schedules, team ownership, special events and more.
It will build on its first two successful seasons, which saw outstanding digital engagement, with more than 80 million social impressions, nearly one million total engagements and over 250,000 social followers. In addition, attendance has reached more than 750,000 over the first two campaigns, with 45 nationally-televised matches – including an inaugural All-Star Match that drew a peak viewership of 445,000 on CBS network television.
Scheduled to begin play in January 2026, MLV is an evolution of PVF and the upcoming campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season. This new structure and brand have been established to provide a centralized, elite platform for the sport - delivering world-class competition, scalable infrastructure, national media exposure, and commercial sustainability. It represents a definitive step forward for women’s pro volleyball, with the goal of elevating the sport to its rightful place among America’s major leagues.
BofA Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor to Pro Volleyball Federation.
About Major League Volleyball
Major League Volleyball is the first formal professional volleyball league for women in the United States. Designed to elevate the sport through world-class competition, commercial innovation, and cultural relevance, MLV brings together elite athletes, visionary leadership and global ambition. With alignment to USA Volleyball and a commitment to Olympic development, MLV serves as the premier pathway from professional play to the world stage.
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