LOS ANGELES, CA –September 19, 2024 – League One Volleyball (LOVB) – the largest brand in youth volleyball with its professional volleyball league launching in the U.S. later this year – today announced the appointment of Rosie Spaulding as president of LOVB Pro. Building upon her established, 20+ year reputation as the architect behind some of the world’s largest global sporting events and leagues, Rosie is being elevated from her role as LOVB’s COO as the league prepares for its debut in November 2024 with its preseason.
“Since the moment she joined our organization, Rosie has lived and breathed LOVB’s ethos; helping us not only lay the right foundation, but also taking us to where we are today. There is no one more qualified to be president of Pro to take us into the first serve and beyond,” said Katlyn Gao, Co-founder and CEO of LOVB. “With Rosie’s experience and continued success in envisioning, building and scaling teams and leagues, she is the right leader to help us deliver the type of league that our athletes deserve.”
Spaulding has been a key member of the LOVB executive team since 2020 when she first joined to help build the strategy for a pro league that would re-imagine volleyball in the U.S.. Beyond the core league components of athlete and coach recruitment, department infrastructure and operations, and city selection for the inaugural teams, LOVB Pro is the only professional league in the United States that has a youth-to-pro ecosystem, built from the foundation of a junior clubs across the country to ensure that athletes can be championed through their entire volleyball journey, from youth to pro.
“Rosie’s extensive career in the sports industry has been defined by both her expertise and her deep commitment to the well-being of athletes. Her leadership in building and scaling professional volleyball with LOVB will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and visibility of the sport,” said Jaime Gordon, CEO of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. “What sets Rosie apart is her genuine care for those who play the game, always ensuring that athletes are supported and valued, both on and off the court. Her vision and passion will continue to make a lasting impact on volleyball and its players at every level.”
One of Spaulding’s signature philosophies is approaching players as whole athletes, and from the very beginning she has designed this league with both the player and the person in mind - ensuring essential health and wellness benefits, and mental health resources; considerations such as schedule design, and providing off-the-court opportunities and developmental support. With less than five months until LOVB’s first serve in January, Spaulding and her team are focused on league readiness, welcoming the athletes to their new homes for the first time, and inviting more fans into the vibrant volleyball community.
“It has been a privilege to work with Rosie from the very beginning on LOVB Pro, and every step of the way, I’ve seen the tremendous love and care that she has put into building the league,” said LOVB Founding Athlete and three-time Olympic Medalist Kelsey Robinson Cook. “She is incredibly deserving of this position, and I’m excited for all that is to come next for Rosie, the athletes and for LOVB.”
Prior to working with LOVB, Spaulding held leadership roles with Super Bowl 50, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the 34th America’s Cup, and architected league-building strategies for properties including SailGP, World Rugby and USA Rugby. Living in Northern California with her family, Spaulding also serves on the Board of local school and sports organizations.
“It's an honor to have the opportunity to launch a league that will not just serve our professional athletes today, but all the young athletes coming up behind them,” said Rosie Spaulding. “As an organization, we have been strategic and methodical in our build, applying a unique community-up approach to creating a modern league for today’s athletes and sports fans. Volleyball is the fastest growing sport for girls in the US, and with our foundation of youth clubs, our globally renowned Olympic superstar athletes, coaches, support staff and the leadership involved, I am confident that what’s coming will be unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
LOVB’s inaugural pro season begins with pre-season kicking off in November, and first serve in January 2025. LOVB’s first season will feature teams in six volleyball-obsessed markets: LOVB Atlanta, LOVB Austin, LOVB Houston, LOVB Madison, LOVB Omaha and LOVB Salt Lake.
For more information about LOVB’s launch, please visit www.LOVB.com.
About LOVB
Founded in 2020, LOVB’s mission is to reimagine the future of volleyball. With a unique community up approach, LOVB is one holistic ecosystem - from club to pro. The largest community of youth clubs in the country, LOVB is launching its pro league in November 2024, which will feature some of the very best players in the world including the American silver medalists from this year’s Olympics. For more information on LOVB, its clubs, and its professional teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha, and Salt Lake, please visit www.lovb.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
