Major League Volleyball (MLV) has announced that veteran sports executive Lindsay Amstutz has been named president of MLV Los Angeles ahead of the franchise's inaugural 2027 season.
Amstutz joins the MLV Los Angeles franchise, led by majority owner and founder Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, co-owner and team governor Ben Priest, and head of competition and head coach Alisha Childress, a three-time NCAA champion and Olympian. MLV LA is one of five franchises fueling the league's rapid growth to 12 teams for the ‘27 campaign.
A Los Angeles native, Amstutz brings more than two decades of leadership experience across professional sports teams, leagues, media, marketing, and sales. As president, she will lead MLV Los Angeles' business operations and growth strategy as the franchise builds out its organization ahead of its first season.
Amstutz most recently served as president of media and partnerships at Playfly Sports, where she led strategic commercial media relationships and drove revenue growth across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. She previously served as Chief Media Officer and Head of Integrated Marketing at OneTeam Partners, overseeing content, production, sponsorship, and media strategy in partnership with professional athlete associations, global brands, and licensees.
Her career also includes senior leadership roles across FOX Sports' Southern California regional networks. As senior vice president and general manager, she oversaw FOX Sports West, Prime Ticket, and FOX Sports San Diego. Earlier in her career, she served as vice president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Sparks and spent two years with the NBA's team marketing & business operations group, advising WNBA franchises on business development and growth strategies.
Amstutz's connection to sports in Los Angeles dates back to her high school years, when she launched one of the city's first girls' basketball leagues. That early commitment to expanding access and opportunity for girls and women in sports has remained a throughline across her career.
"I'm honored to join Major League Volleyball at such an exciting moment for the league and for professional volleyball," said Amstutz. "Los Angeles is one of the world's great sports markets and a community with deep volleyball roots. Building a franchise from the ground up, in my hometown, with local ownership, is an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to working alongside our ownership group, the league, our partners, and our community to create an organization that athletes, fans, and the city will be proud to support."
“Lindsay is exactly the kind of leader we want building MLV Los Angeles,” said Ben Priest, co-owner and team governor of MLV Los Angeles. “She knows this market, understands the business of women’s sports, and has spent her career building brands, partnerships, and platforms that connect deeply with fans. She also understands what it takes to build something from the ground up and create a lasting impact in the community.”
“Lindsay is an exceptional leader whose experience across sports, media, partnerships, and brand-building makes her uniquely suited to launch MLV Los Angeles,” said Jaime Weston, MLV Commissioner. “As a native Angeleno, she brings an authentic understanding of this community and a unique perspective on what it takes to build a brand and fan experience that truly reflects Los Angeles. At the same time, Los Angeles is one of the most important markets in our league’s national growth strategy and one of the country’s premier media markets. Lindsay’s ability to connect with fans, partners, and the broader community makes her the ideal leader to build a franchise that can be both authentically Los Angeles and a powerful platform for Major League Volleyball. We’re thrilled to have her at the helm.”
Amstutz's involvement in the Los Angeles sports and civic community extends beyond her professional career. She currently serves on advisory boards for the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, as well as on the board of her local YMCA and other youth sports organizations.
As one of the nation's most influential sports and entertainment markets, Los Angeles represents a significant opportunity for MLV's continued expansion. Amstutz will lead the franchise as it builds its business operations, establishes its community presence, and prepares to introduce professional women's volleyball to fans across Southern California.
Additional details regarding the team's identity, branding, home venue, and inaugural season schedule will be announced in the coming months.