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The Pro Volleyball Federation is merging with fellow pro women’s league, Major League Volleyball, which was expected to launch in 2026, according to someone familiar with the details who was not authorized to speak publicly. The deal will likely will announced this week.
PVF raised $40 million as part of the transaction, which valued the combined leagues at more than $325 million. The investment was led by the DeVos family, who own the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the Grand Rapids Rise in the PVF. Other investors include Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé and three-time Olympic beach volleyball champion Kerri Walsh Jennings, who both backed the MLV launch. D.C. United owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan are also investing and will be granted an expansion team, as will Ranadivé.
The two leagues will operate under the MLV banner, and it is billed as an evolution of the PVF. The MLV will include the sport’s most popular team, the Omaha Supernovas, who averaged a league-leading 10,925 spectators per match. The high-water mark was 13,486 during the season opener against the Atlanta Vibe.
Major League Volleyball was set to launch after the cessation of the Supernovas from PVF, which finished its second season in May. Omaha has a vibrant volleyball community, evidenced by the 92,000 fans that showed to watch the University of Nebraska’s women’s team play a 2023 game at the Cornhuskers’ football stadium.
The PVF had eight teams this season that had the Orlando Valkyries win the Pro Volleyball Federation Championship. Leaguewide attendance topped 430,000 fans from 116 matches.
MLV will likely have 10 teams for 2026 and expand to 12 in 2027 when franchises in D.C. and Northern California start play. The league anticipates 16 teams by 2028. Teams will be independantly owned in their market, similar to the structure of the major men’s professional U.S. leagues. The league’s free agency signing period starts Wednesday.
PVF and MLV didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The women’s professional volleyball space has exploded over the last few years, including LOVB Pro, which launched in 2025 after raising $100 million in new funding for League One Volleyball last year. The AU Pro Volleyball Championship is a fall league that started in 2021.
The leagues want to tap into the growth of the sport on the youth level. The number of girls registered with clubs is up 40% from 2013-14, according to USA Volleyball. Volleyball ranks as the second most popular sport among high school girls, just behind outdoor track and field.
Bank of America was the financial advisor on PVF’s acquisition of MLV and its expansion. The banking giant will also lead the future expansion process.
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