The future of the Omaha Supernovas came into focus on Tuesday as the Supernovas’ new league, Major League Volleyball, and former league, Pro Volleyball Federation, announced a merger.
Omaha will compete in the unified league called MLV and branded as an “evolution of PVF.”
“This is a defining moment for the Supernovas and professional volleyball in the United States,” Supernovas president Diane Mendenhall said in a release. “Unified by the vision to elevate our sport to a major-league level, MLV reflects our commitment to delivering a world-class product on the court, creating unforgettable in-venue fan experiences, and building a stage where every young fan can dream of playing one day. MLV isn’t just here to elevate, but to lay the foundation for making professional volleyball a lasting part of the American sports culture and landscape.”
According to Omaha’s release, “MLV will continue to use the proven and highly successful franchise model to foster team competitiveness, deepen fan engagement, and fuel long-term brand growth — hallmarks that have propelled the Supernovas to record-breaking attendance, premier sponsorships, and championship-caliber performance on the court.”
Year three of the professional volleyball league will begin play in January 2026 and will feature eight teams: Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando and San Diego. The Dallas franchise replaces the Las Vegas Thrill, a founding member of the PVF. Additionally, the league will introduce two new teams in 2027, located in Washington D.C. and Northern California.
“To see the sport continue to grow with the consolidation of these teams and their leaders elevates the excitement level to new heights,” PVF CEO Jen Spicher said. “Our belief in the team-ownership model that we played under for the first two seasons is stronger than ever and will showcase the sport at a greater level throughout the nation.”
The Supernovas won the inaugural PVF title in 2024 before falling in the semifinals this past season. The team announced it January it would leave the PVF after the 2025 season to be a founding partner of the new Major League Volleyball venture. Tuesday’s news brings the Supernovas back into the fold with their previous league mates.
Omaha also announced Ben Priest as its new co-owner and governor of the Supernovas, joining co-founders Daniel White and Jason Derulo to spearhead the franchises evolution. Priest was a founding member of Major League Volleyball alongside White, Derulo, Vivek Renadivé (owner of the Northern California team) and Kerri Walsh-Jennings, and he previously served as a Formula 1 racing executive, spearheading McLaren’s efforts to develop partnerships in the United States.
“Bringing together a group of powerful visionaries and business leaders is no simple task — and for pro women’s volleyball this is a great example of collective bigger picture thinking,” Priest said. “Beyond excited for what is to come.”
The Supernovas announced more changes Wednesday, bringing one of the biggest names in volleyball into the fold. Former Nebraska head coach John Cook has joined the franchise as co-owner and general manager. The four-time NCAA national champion announced his retirement from Nebraska in late January, but the Supernovas lured him back into the volleyball world in a new role.
“After more than 30 years of coaching, I knew I wanted the next chapter to be just as impactful and becoming the General Manager of the Omaha Supernovas is exactly that opportunity,” Cook in a release. “I’ve spent my career helping grow the game at the college level, and now I have the chance to take that knowledge and apply it in a new way, with the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise. The energy around our sport has never been higher, and the Supernovas are at the forefront of that momentum. There’s no better place than Nebraska, and no better organization than the Supernovas, to help take this sport to the next level.”
Additionally, Omaha and head coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn have parted ways, and the Supernovas hired Luka Slabe as their new head coach. Slaba, a Slovenian native, has extensive USA volleyball experience including an Olympic gold medal and three Volleyball Nations League titles. He served as defensive coordinator and blocking coach for the U.S. women’s team from 2018 to 2021, left to take over as head coach of the North Carolina State women’s volleyball team for three years then rejoined USA Volleyball as an assistant coach for the men’s team last year.
Slabe came to the United States to play college volleyball at BYU, and he later returned to Provo as an assistant coach following his playing days. He spent seven seasons as a professional coach overseas and also led Slovenia’s men’s national team for two years.
“I’m thrilled to join the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise in the Omaha Supernovas,” Slabe said. “I can’t wait to contribute to the organization’s immense success and take on new challenges both on and off court as we work to grow the sport. I’m especially looking forward to connecting with NovasNation and the incredible community that makes volleyball so special in Nebraska, while building on the tremendous team culture and continuing to position us to compete for the MLV Championship.”
The Supernovas will continue to play home matches at CHI Health Center Omaha in 2026 and beyond after leading all professional volleyball teams across the world in attendance the past two seasons.
The 2026 season begins on Thursday with free agent signing period set to open at 4 p.m. CT.
