LOVB San Francisco, slated for a January 2027 debut, announced a sweeping expansion of its ownership team on Thursday, welcoming nearly three dozen new high-profile athletes, executives, and investors.
Notable additions to this diverse group include NBA championship-winning coach Steve Kerr, legendary soccer star Julie Foudy, the WNBA’s Lexi Hull, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, Rachel Springate and Assia Grazioli-Venier from Muse Capital/Muse Sport, along with three-time Olympic volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung.
These new members join an already impressive roster boasting a combined 32 Olympic medals, featuring established figures in women’s sports and media such as Abby Wambach, Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain, Ali Riley, and Natalie Coughlin.
“We are establishing more than a conventional ownership model; we are bringing together a collective of innovators who recognize the future trajectory of volleyball in the U.S. and are committed to shaping it, particularly here in the Bay Area,” stated Jes Wolfe, owner and chairwoman of LOVB San Francisco, in a press release. She added, “Collectively, we are building an entity that resonates with this community and establishes a novel benchmark for the beneficial influence a professional team can exert on both the sport and its players.”
LOVB has experienced a notable influx of investors in the recent past.
Just last week, former NFL stars Terrence C. Murphy Sr. and Reggie Bush finalized their acquisition of LOVB Salt Lake. Prior to that, in November, Houston Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair, alongside his wife Hannah McNair, who serves as Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation, secured LOVB Houston through their venture, Lone Star Sports & Entertainment.
In October, the league welcomed its seventh franchise, whose ownership group is spearheaded by Reddit founder and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian’s investment firm, Seven Seven Six. Separately, the Austin franchise is notably owned by David Blitzer, founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), an organization with holdings such as the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Crystal Palace F.C.
LOVB stands as the preeminent volleyball organization in the United States, encompassing everything from youth and grassroots programs to a professional league.
The professional league officially commenced operations in Austin in January 2025, featuring six inaugural franchises: Omaha, Nebraska; Austin, Texas; Madison, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Houston, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia. Each city was selected for its strong foundations in youth and collegiate volleyball.
Employing a vertically integrated structure, the league directly links 3,400 junior athletes and 3,000 coaches across 28 states to its professional clubs.
The lucrative youth academy model proved an early draw for investors. As a startup, LOVB successfully secured $160 million in funding in 2024, which included a $100 million round spearheaded by Atwater Capital, alongside sustained support from Ares Management and Left Lane Capital.
The LOVB professional league is scheduled to host its championship event later this month in Long Beach, California.