Volleyball

FIVB taps Horizon Sports & Experiences to handle sponsorship and media rights for its 2027 tournament

Volleyball is bigger than ever, and FIVB wants to meet the moment. After bringing its 2027 tournament stateside, the international volleyball federation is officially teaming up with Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) as the event’s exclusive sponsorship and media rights sales agency.

June 16, 2026

MLV’s viewership engagement numbers through season championship illustrate power of media partnerships

🏐

Major League Volleyball (MLV) wrapped its inaugural “Match For A Million” championship on May 9th in front of a sold-out crowd of over 4.5K in Dallas. However, the league has been drawing a much bigger crowd all season long — after reorganizing and rebranding, media rights deals and a strong social push (featuring yours truly) brought volleyball to many more households.

May 21, 2026

Everything you need to know about the 2026 Major League Volleyball semis

Together With

Everything you need to know about the 2026 Major League Volleyball semis

🏐

Block party, loading. The Major League Volleyball (MLV) semis are set for tomorrow, where the top four regular-season finishers will battle for a spot in Saturday’s championship, not to mention a $1M bonus. As Tate McRae says, just keep watching.

May 05, 2026

LOVB SF owners on unique Bay Area ecosystem that makes volleyball franchise a smash hit

🏐

This Thursday, LOVB serves up its championship weekend, which will air on USA Sports for the first time. This will be the last chip featuring the league’s inaugural six teams as three expansion teams will be added next year, including LOVB San Francisco.

April 14, 2026

Women’s college volleyball gets the college basketball treatment with first-of-its-kind Paradise Invitational

🏐

Yesterday, GS Sports — a sports event company that primarily hosts elite youth basketball competitions — announced its first foray into college sports with the Paradise Invitational. This will be a first-of-its-kind NCAA women’s volleyball showcase featuring four top teams facing off in the Bahamas.

February 24, 2026

LOVB Austin off to a raucous start in second season

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LOVB Austin off to a raucous start in second season

🏐

The second League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “love”) season is officially underway. Here’s what went down during Wednesday’s season-opening rematch between defending champ Austin and runner-up Nebraska, plus where to watch the NCAA-stars-turned-LOVB-rookies you know and love this weekend. Bump to it.

January 08, 2026

Everything you need to know about LOVB and MLV

🏐

It’s officially pro women’s volleyball season. Two leagues — League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) — will begin their second and third seasons, respectively, this week, so we’re serving up a deep dive on the surging sport.

January 07, 2026

LOVB announces San Francisco franchise with ownership group led by Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe

Sports Business

LOVB announces San Francisco franchise with ownership group led by Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe

🏐

December 18, 2025

oday, LOVB announced the launch of a new franchise in San Francisco set to hit the court in January 2027. Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe — a prominent LOVB media partner — co-led the ownership group with growth strategist Chantell Preston as they assembled a team of all-women investors, including Olympian and LOVB founding athlete Kelsey Robinson Cook.

Read Full Story

The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #590

Alex Ovechkin’s concerning relationship with Vladimir Putin

September 17, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Alex Ovechkin’s concerning relationship with Vladimir Putin

Today is Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s 41st birthday. It’s also the first day of training camp ahead of his 22nd and perhaps final season in the NHL, which should be cause for celebration as one of the league’s all-time greats. However, on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz detail Ovi’s relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, inspired by the hockey player's recent ad endorsing Putin’s party ahead of parliamentary elections.