Women’s professional sports have had a major year in San Francisco. The Golden State Valkyries made a successful debut, drawing thousands of fans to home games and breaking records. Bay FC, the professional women’s soccer team, had record-breaking attendance at Oracle Park, with over 40,000 fans.
San Francisco is expected to get a professional women’s volleyball team by 2027. League One Volleyball (LOVB) announced the expansion last week, revealing the ownership group is led by women, including Jes Wolfe, Chantell Preston, Olympic medalist Kelsey Cook, Bay FC founders Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain, and Danielle Slaton, and many more. The ownership group includes numerous professional athletes, including Abby Wambach, Natalie Coughlin, Lindsey Napela Berg, Alix Klineman, Ali Riley, and more.
“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, in a recent statement. “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.”
The Bay Area already has a strong volleyball culture, with numerous youth leagues along with collegiate teams at major universities across the Bay. So far, the league has not announced where the team will play, but fans can expect the team to begin play in January 2027. LOVB currently has six teams in the league, with three new teams planned for 2027. The other teams will be based in Los Angeles and Minnesota. There are currently pro teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska, and Salt Lake City.
