2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship: New Cities & Stars

Forbes

01-05-2025

2025 Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Championship
Athletes Unlimited
Athletes Unlimited has unveiled a rebrand of its exclusive, invite-only Pro Volleyball Championship, which will feature 44 of the world's top players competing for the sport's ultimate title.
Hosted in two of the most volleyball-obsessed cities — Omaha, Nebraska (October 1–15) and Madison, Wisconsin (October 22–November 3) — the five-week tournament brings a high-intensity, fresh format to fans, with matchups designed to deliver the highest talent and championship-level action. Fifteen matches will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN platforms, with additional streaming partners to be announced.
With a bold new identity and logo developed in collaboration with creative agency Doubleday & Cartwright, the AU Pro Volleyball Championship builds on Athletes Unlimited's legacy of innovation since its 2021 debut.
Athletes Unlimited's vision for the Pro Volleyball Championship represents a significant stake in women's professional volleyball, with a commitment to providing a platform where the world's best athletes can compete at the highest level.
As Jon Patricof, Co-Founder and CEO of Athletes Unlimited, shared, 'It represents our investment and continued belief in the massive opportunity that exists around women's professional volleyball in the United States. We hold a very unique position in the marketplace, and this new chapter really crystallizes that position—as the place where the best players from around the world come to compete every fall.'
The selection of Omaha and Madison as host cities was driven by the passionate volleyball fanbases in both cities and the strong local support, ensuring the championship resonates not only with core volleyball fans but with sports enthusiasts across the country and around the world. 'There was immense demand from cities across the country to host the championship.
At the end of the day, Omaha and Madison stood out because of their passionate fan bases and the enthusiasm and cooperation from the cities and our local hosts,' said Patricof. 'This is a pivotal moment where we want to solidify our position—not just among core volleyball fans, which we know we'll find in Omaha and Madison—but also with sports fans across the country and around the world.' Fans can reserve their seats now — series ticket deposits are open for both Omaha and Madison.
Manami Kojima Photo credit: Athletes Unlimited
Athletes Unlimited
With an impressive roster filled with Olympians and international stars, Cassidy Lichtman, VP of Volleyball at Athletes Unlimited, is enthusiastic about what fans can expect, noting, 'It's going to be a very high level of play. Our format also makes it incredibly competitive — our slogan is 'Every Moment Counts,' and that's truly the case. Every play matters and is scored, which creates a nonstop competitive atmosphere.'
Olympic medalists Micha Hancock, Jordan Thompson, Justine Wong-Orantes, and Natalia Zilio Pereira will take the AU court, joining defending champion Brittany Abercrombie in a stacked roster of international and domestic stars. Among the early wave of announced athletes are Olympians from five nations, including:
Lorenne Teixeira (Brazil), Manami Kojima (Japan), Natalia Valentin-Anderson (Puerto Rico), and Betty De La Cruz (Dominican Republic), as well as local heroes and fan favorites like Wong-Orantes, Valentin-Anderson, Sydney Hilley, and Claire Chaussee.
Standout NCAA All-Americans such as Madi Bugg, Dani Drews, Skylar Fields, Serena Gray, Claire Hoffman, and Molly McCage will also compete, alongside international firepower including Heydi Casanova (Cuba) and Pornpun Guedpard and Piyanut Pannoy (Thailand).
Lichtman compares the intensity of the competition to the playoff energy that fans are familiar with, adding, "You're watching athletes who never take a point off. It's similar to the intensity of playoff sports — except it's every game. That's really fun for fans. You're seeing the best in the world — from the U.S., Brazil, Thailand, the Dominican Republic — all competing at full throttle in a format that's different from what they're used to." This unique format, combined with the sheer talent on display, is sure to create an unforgettable experience for fans.
Athletes Unlimited's signature scoring system further elevates the competition. Players earn points not only through team victories but also through individual performances, with the leaderboard constantly evolving. Each week, the top four athletes become team captains, drafting new rosters, and culminating in one overall champion at season's end. This innovative structure adds layers of excitement and strategy, giving fans something to look forward to each week.
CEO Jon Patricof weighed in on the impact of this dynamic format: "The competition around the individual championship and our scoring system, along with the redrafting of teams, has been incredibly successful. We've seen this format adopted by college and youth programs, and it's something both fans and athletes love. We believe all volleyball fans will want to tune in to see who will be crowned the individual champion of volleyball."
Micha Hancock, an elite setter for the United States Women's National Volleyball Team, is no stranger to high-stakes competition. Having led Penn State to back-to-back national championships in 2013 and 2014, Hancock is a player with an extensive record of success at the highest levels of the sport. As the AU Pro Volleyball Championship makes its debut, Hancock reflects on what drew her to play in the tournament.
"I'm in a place where I'm hungry for more volleyball, and AU has such a different structure that I was really curious to see what it would be like. At this point in my career, staying active and competing at a high level is important—and this felt like a win-win."
The AU Pro Volleyball Championship's unique format, where players earn individual points and draft new teams each week, poses new challenges for Hancock. As a setter, building chemistry with new teammates every round is a key part of the game. "It's definitely a challenge, but that's part of what makes it exciting," she says. "There's so much variety in who you're playing with, and the weekly draft makes you think differently. Communication has to be at an all-time high, and it really pushes you to figure out quickly who you gel with—whether their style works with yours, and vice versa."
In this fast-paced environment, Hancock will focus on observing her teammates closely to make quick adjustments. "As a setter, I'll be watching closely—trying to see how hitters move, how they like the ball, and making adjustments fast. I've watched past AU seasons and seen some of my former teammates play, so I'm really looking forward to jumping in and figuring it all out firsthand."
Reflecting on the competitive nature of the Championship, Hancock recognizes the mental and physical demands it will place on all players. "Any event at this level is going to be a challenge—mentally and physically. The format is unique, especially with the three-game structure. I haven't played that way in a while, but it'll be cool to experience."
With top talent from around the world, the Championship will bring together diverse styles of play. Hancock is excited by the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the sport. "There's new talent coming in, and a lot of elite players from different backgrounds. The format, the scoring, the rotations—everything's just a little different, and I'm going in with an open mind and high hopes."
As the landscape of professional volleyball evolves, Hancock reflects on the growing opportunities for athletes. "There's no one 'right way' to play pro volleyball. For a long time, I got caught up in trying to follow the right path. But the reality is, having three—maybe even four—leagues running right now gives athletes options. If playing professionally is what you want to do, go for it. I'm excited to be part of the AU Pro Volleyball Championship and to compete in front of great fans."
'As the first modern professional women's volleyball league to launch in the U.S. back in 2021, Athletes Unlimited is proud of the role it has played in advancing the sport,' said Cassidy Lichtman, Vice President of Volleyball at Athletes Unlimited. 'We're now thrilled to introduce this new iteration of our competition, which will bring together top players from the best domestic and international leagues.'
'We're incredibly excited,' added AU co-founder and CEO Jon Patricof. 'Not only will these games air on ESPN, but they'll also be broadcast globally. We're focused on making the matches accessible to fans everywhere. With top-tier talent from the U.S. and around the world, there's a massive appetite for more elite volleyball, and we're committed to meeting that demand.'
The AU Pro Volleyball Championship is a flagship initiative of Athletes Unlimited, which was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. Its Advisory Board includes some of the biggest names in sports—Karch Kiraly, Sheryl Swoopes, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman, Abby Wambach, and Kevin Durant—exemplifying AU's mission to lead with athlete-driven innovation and elevate the game.