What Is League One Volleyball? Here’s How Kevin Durant, Lindsey Vonn, and Others Are Backing the Upcoming US League
In the USA, the wave of popularity in basketball made the stakeholders think about capitalizing on it. In the meantime, the houses came back with two major professional volleyball leagues. The first one appeared to be the Pro Volleyball Federation, while the second was Athletes Unlimited. Later, the two leagues had to make space, as the third one was on the cards. It is the California-based League One Volleyball (LOVB). Since its founding four years ago, the league has grown in shape and size. Right now, it has 56 clubs in 63 locations. Furthermore, it has brought a few big names from different worlds under the same flag.
Last September, LOVB’s Instagram account featured names like Lindsey Vonn, Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, and others on their list of investors. But what factors made them follow a volleyball league that is yet to flag off its inaugural season? Well, here are the reasons.
The League One Volleyball displays stunning growth
Establishing its foundation in 2020, League One Volleyball has shown stunning growth in the last four years. Because of the contributions made by Lindsey Vonn, Kevin Durant, and many others, the league has already raised an amount of more than $60 million in funds. Currently, it forms the largest community of volleyball players in the country by providing affiliation to more than 14,000 athletes, 3000 coaches, and 1300 teams. Not just that, the league has 56 clubs in 63 locations in the USA. Quite an achievement for a budding volleyball league in its nascent state! However, LOVB is now moving towards shedding its reputation as just a league on paper. On October 18, the X-handle of LOVB announced that it would stage its inaugural pro tournament in January. Surprisingly, the tournament will come alongside the prestigious Triple Crown NIT. A bonus for the volleyball fans! Isn’t it? But the list of surprises does not end here.
BIG NEWS Volleyball Fans
We’re making history with the LOVB Classic—the first-ever pro tournament to take place alongside the prestigious Triple Crown NIT (@triplecrownspts) in 2025!
WHO? LOVB’s 6 pro teams with some of the world’s best volleyball players… pic.twitter.com/jfnX4kyiqy
— League One Volleyball (@leagueonevb) October 18, 2024
As per the schedule, the pro tournament will come to life with the help of six teams competing against each other. The teams are Austin, Atlanta, Texas, Houston, Omaha, the Salt Lake City area, and Madison, Wisconsin. Notably, the teams will have a training facility at one of the LOVB junior clubs. This arrangement will open the gates for young players to interact with the Olympians and veterans. Therefore, a viable change in the sport is on the cards. And not just that, several Olympians from other countries have already signed a contract to participate in LOVB. Therefore, the exchanges between the players may bring a visible change in the fraternity as well. Now talking about the salary of the pro players, LOVB has something huge in the bag.
Because of the inclusion of names like Durant, Vonn, Jayson Tatum, and many others on the investors’ list, the league has enjoyed a fair share of the limelight. As a result, the list of investors has increased quite a bit. The wage section demonstrates the impact of it. As per the deal, the pro players will take home a minimum salary of $60,000 for the 14-week inaugural season. Now, talk about the numbers! Additionally, the players will get medical support, health insurance, paid parental leave, and many other facilities. Notably, in the past, both Durant and Lindsey Vonn have been vocal on topics like mental support. So, their impact is obvious in the league’s book. In the meantime, an American legend has tried to see the effect of LOVB through a different lens.
The veterans speak highly of the structure
In her reason for being an investor in the LOVB structure, Lindsey Vonn said, “This is volleyball’s era.” She has further noted the essentiality of such platforms that may help young girls excel in their volleyball careers. Now, as per several volleyball stars, after the emergence of LOVB, that ‘era’ will benefit highly in the USA. One such statement came from the two-time Olympian Courtney Thompson. Notably, the proposed volleyball league will provide an avenue for young players to settle into the pro status. Previously, such a chance used to be rare in the USA. According to Thompson, this facility would be a significant change in the coming days.
In the podcast, USA Volleyball Show, the veteran laid out, “…for our athletes to have pro opportunities here, how cool is that?” Furthermore, she acknowledged her role as a part of LOVB. Now, she hopes that the inaugural season will come with a bang. So does Jordan Larson.
The four-time Olympic medalist will enter League One Volleyball, being part of the Omaha setup. But she will train at the coaching facility of Premier Nebraska. That emerges to be a chance for all the youngsters to get the reach of someone who has four consecutive medals at the Olympics. The budding players like Remi Christiansen are already excited thinking about that fact. But the emotions have worked on both sides. While revealing her side, Larson said, “I am the living embodiment of LOVB’s commitment to creating pathways from youth to pro.” That’s where LOVB wins the race and convinces stars from other sports to join the team as supporters.
The post What Is League One Volleyball? Here’s How Kevin Durant, Lindsey Vonn, and Others Are Backing the Upcoming US League appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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