Major League Volleyball is heading to Los Angeles.
The professional volleyball league — home to the Omaha Supernovas — officially announced the launch of its L.A. franchise Tuesday, with the team set to begin play in 2027. The expansion marks a significant step for the league as it heads into its fourth season.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a minority stakeholder in the Los Angeles Lakers, will serve as majority owner. Ben Priest, formerly the governing owner of the Supernovas and one of Major League Volleyball’s founding architects, steps in as governor and managing partner. Alisha Childress, an Olympian and three-time NCAA champion, has been named the team’s first head coach and head of competition.
Commissioner Jaime Weston called Los Angeles a natural fit for the league’s growth ambitions. “L.A. has all the ingredients to become one of the premier professional volleyball markets in the world, including a strong volleyball community, deep ties to sports and entertainment, and fans who embrace live events and big moments,” Weston said.
Dr. Soon-Shiong framed the franchise as something bigger than volleyball alone. “This is about building more than a team; it is about building a lasting platform for the future of women’s professional sports,” he said.
Priest’s move from Omaha to L.A. signals a new chapter for MLV, bringing organizational experience from the Supernovas market to a much larger stage. The franchise will be based out of the NantWorks campus in El Segundo, serving as the hub for team operations and athlete performance.
Official branding and team identity are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
