$100M in New Investment for LOVB from Atwater Capital, Ares and Left Lane Capital

League One Volleyball today announced $100 million in committed new funding, led by Atwater Capital—a women-founded private equity firm known for its focus on media and entertainment and notable investments in companies like Plan B and 88rising—alongside existing investors, Ares Management funds (“Ares”) and Left Lane Capital. The new investment will continue to fuel LOVB’s mission to transform volleyball from the grassroots to the professional level, while supporting the much-anticipated launch of LOVB Pro’s inaugural season set to begin in January 2025.

To date, LOVB has raised $160 million dollars from investors including Lindsey Vonn (Olympic Skiing Gold Medalist), Candace Parker (WNBA champion and two time MVP and her daughter Lailaa, Amy Schumer, G9 Ventures, Linda Henry (Partner in Fenway Sports Group), Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Boardroom Sports Holdings and Chelsea Handler. LOVB is also backed by prominent sports-dedicated investment funds, including David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures and Verance Capital. These organizations and individuals all believe in the power of LOVB’s unique community-up model, as it sets the pace for the future of major league volleyball in the U.S. 

“The initial idea behind LOVB was to introduce a youth to pro ecosystem approach from the onset, but what we’ve been able to achieve with LOVB is the opportunity to champion athletes throughout their entire volleyball journey,” said Katlyn Gao, co-founder and CEO. “We believe this is the next wave of sport, starting from the grassroots up to build professional pathways. By connecting our club athletes to our pros, we are supporting the next generation of players and creating a bond unrivaled by other leagues. As the sport of volleyball continues to grow not just in size but in popularity, we are humbled to be rolling up our sleeves alongside leading investors like Atwater, Ares and Left Lane Capital to enable volleyball to become the next major league.”

Coming off a banner year where LOVB doubled the size of its youth programs – expanding to 58 clubs with more than 16,000 athletes across 26 states and 66 locations– LOVB has continued to see tremendous success both on and off the court. This year, 15 LOVB junior clubs ranked in the Top 100 nationally, with three in the Top 10—led by Houston Skyline (#1), A5 (#2), and Premier Nebraska (#10). Off the court, nearly 600 athletes from the LOVB Class of 2024 are competing in collegiate volleyball this fall, underscoring LOVB’s role in creating pathways for young athletes to continue their volleyball journeys.

Building on this momentum, LOVB Pro is set to debut its first matches on January 8, 2025 in Atlanta. Featuring teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake and made up of some of the best professional players in the world – with 17 Olympians including ten members of Team USA who  earned a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games, and players from more than 20 countries, with 90% having represented their national teams – the league’s first six teams will bring an unprecedented level of play to the U.S., led by world-class coaches who boast a collective18 Olympic medals.

“We believe LOVB has the potential to lead the next era of both youth and professional sports,” said Vania Schlogel, CEO and Founder of Atwater Capital. “This investment isn’t just about fueling growth or generating financial returns—it’s about creating a platform where women and youth athletes can truly thrive. By leveraging our expertise in media and entertainment, we’re excited to amplify LOVB’s impact, delivering compelling stories and experiences that engage volleyball fans in new, exciting ways and inspire the next generation of exceptional athletes.”

In 2024, the buzz around LOVB’s unique youth to pro ecosystem approach has captured the attention of industry-leading brands and media partners including adidas, ESPN, REVOLVE, SPANX and iHeart Radio. These brands and media partners have flocked to LOVB as volleyball is a naturally women-led Gen Z sport and 95% of the league’s core club demographic is between the ages 12-26.  Furthering the attraction, volleyball is the #1 high school team sport for girls by participation and has become one of the most popular sports in college, where a record-setting 92,000 fans attended a regular season match at the University of Nebraska in their football stadium. By working with LOVB, brands are able to authentically engage Gen Z audiences while they are young and create fans for life. 

LOVB’s partnerships are also driven by a desire to build a modern league from the ground up. That means reexamining everything all the way down to the uniforms its players wear. For example, adidas will not only outfit the league’s pro athletes for the upcoming season, but collaborate with LOVB to redesign volleyball uniforms that meet the needs of women athletes, setting a new standard for performance and fit. 

REVOLVE, the premier fashion retailer for Millennial and Generation Z consumers, will not only become the official online fashion retail partner for LOVB, but will position LOVB’s volleyball players as influential voices at the intersection of sports and fashion. By curating looks from REVOLVE’s extensive portfolio of brands, LOVB’s athletes will bring their authentic style personalities, and powerful presence to a fashion-forward tunnel walk experience.  

In addition, with SPANX, LOVB will engage in an online series that spotlights the lives of LOVB’s pro athletes on and off the court, while also outfitting players in Spanx’s AirEssentials line for pre-season events and appearances.

With viewership of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris generating an average of 30.6 million viewers, an 82% increase from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics which had 16.9 million viewers, LOVB has also secured an exclusive media rights deal with ESPN, before even playing its first professional match. ESPN will air LOVB’s matches across its linear networks and digital platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+. 

As part of its efforts to connect with fans of the sport, LOVB has also entered into the media space. LOVB’s podcast, “Serving Pancakes™,” named after the signature “pancake” move in volleyball, is the only volleyball-focused show featured on the iHeart Women’s Sports Network. The podcast brings together international volleyball stars, top athletes across various sports, entertainers, and other cultural influencers, including LOVB’s investors and supporters, creating a unique platform to celebrate the sport.

Finally, LOVB’s commitment to impact extends beyond the court. Through the LOVB Foundation, nearly $750,000 in financial aid was provided to young athletes in 2024, furthering its mission to increase access to the sport and nurture the next generation of volleyball talent.