Why Kerri Walsh Jennings Picked a Side in the Volleyball War
The Olympian co-owns the expansion team NorCal Rumble.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings has chosen to support Major League Volleyball (MLV) over League One Volleyball (LOVB). In an interview for Front Office Sports, Walsh Jennings explained that her choice was influenced by the differing ownership structures of the two leagues. MLV's individual franchise model, which she is now part of as a co-owner of the upcoming 2027 expansion team in Northern California, allows for greater independence and autonomy compared to LOVB's single-entity structure.
Walsh Jennings believes that the MLV's independent franchises are better positioned to foster competition and long-term success, as they are not dictated by central control like teams in other major U.S. sports leagues. LOVB, while an impressive marketing machine, operates under a model where all teams are centrally owned, with teams being told how to operate.
This centralization may be appealing for marketing purposes, but Walsh Jennings thinks independent franchises are ultimately better for the sport at the pro level.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
