The Pro Volleyball Federation announced on Tuesday it will merge with pro women’s league, Major League Volleyball. The league will be branded MLV and open play in January 2026 with eight teams in Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando and San Diego.
The Omaha Supernovas, who averaged the highest attendance in the PVF last season at more 10,000 per match, move to MLV. The Vegas Thrill, previously a member of MLV, are looking for new ownership and are not part of this iteration of the pro volleyball league.
In 2027, the MLV plans to expand with franchises in Washington D.C. and Northern California. The Northern California team is majority owned by Vivek Ranadivé and D.C. by the D.C. United ownership group.
Sportico was the first to report on the merger Monday, saying the combined leagues are valued at more than $325 million. Investors include the DeVos family, which owns the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the Grand Rapids Rise; Sacramento Kings owner Ranadivé and three-time Olympic beach volleyball champion Kerri Walsh Jennings.
The 2026 season, the league’s third, will open free agency at 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 7.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pro volleyball leagues announce merger, open 2026 season in January
