Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe, Olympic volleyball medallist Kelsey Cook, and Bay FC co-founders among ownership group
Third new team announced by LOVB this year after LA and Minnesota
League One Volleyball (LOVB) is expanding to nine teams with the addition of a San Francisco franchise.
The new team is set to begin play in January 2027 and is backed by a women-led ownership group featuring a mix of athletes and executives.
The group includes Rebel Girls chief executive Jes Wolfe, three-time Olympic volleyball medallist Kelsey Cook, as well as Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain and Danielle Slaton, the co-founders of National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise Bay FC.
“This ownership group represents everything LOVB stands for: women leading with vision, intention, and a deep belief in what’s possible when we invest in each other,” said Rosie Spaulding, President of LOVB Pro.
“These leaders have broken barriers in boardrooms, on the court and across culture. Their commitment to LOVB San Francisco reflects our mission to build a new model for women’s sports – one powered by community, opportunity, and a pipeline that elevates athletes from their very first serve to the pro stage.”
Wolfe, who will serve as chairman of LOVB San Francisco, added: “The Bay Area has become a beacon for women’s sports – a place where investment, innovation, and community come together to create real impact.
“LOVB’s mission to build opportunity from the youth level up deeply resonates with me as both an athlete and a leader, and we are incredibly excited to bring a professional volleyball team to the Bay Area and become part of this dynamic community.
“Together with our incredible ownership group, we are building a team and a community that not only adds to the Bay Area’s legacy but expands it for generations to come.”
According to LOVB, San Francisco is among the strongest volleyball regions in the US, with participation in girls’ club, high school and beach volleyball among the country’s highest. The region’s athletes also routinely progress to top collegiate programmes and global professional opportunities.
The addition of San Francisco comes after LOVB announced this year it would be expanding to Los Angeles and Minnesota. Both teams are also set to debut at the start of the US league’s third season in January 2027. The Los Angeles outfit’s ownership group is led by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and his Seven Seven Six venture capital firm.
LOVB completed its inaugural professional season this year, having raised US$100 million in November, with private equity firms such as Atwater Capital, basketball star Kevin Durant and Olympic skiing gold medallist Lindsey Vonn among those providing funding.
LOVB was founded in 2019 with the initial goal of creating a grassroots network of youth volleyball teams. Having built up a stable of grassroots teams, it took the step of launching a six-team professional division.
Combining richer content, in-depth data and exclusive community benefits, SportsPro+ is your VIP pass into the global sports industry. Discover more here.