The GIST

Athletes Unlimited revamps volleyball offering with plans to play in sport’s biggest hubs

Yesterday, Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Volleyball revamped its volleyball championship with an exclusive, invite-only tournament featuring 44 of the world’s top players. For the first time ever, AU is splitting up its season across two cities known for their love of the game: Omaha, Nebraska and Madison, Wisconsin.

May 02, 2025

Media brand Rebel Girls establishes partnerships with LOVB, AUSL

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Yesterday, Rebel Girls (RG) — a digital media company created to inspire Gen Alpha girls — announced two major partnerships with emerging pro women’s sports leagues: League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).

December 11, 2024

LOVB announces $100M in new funding from venture capital and investment firms

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Yesterday, LOVB (pronounced LOVE) announced $100M in funding led by Atwater Capital, along with existing supporters Ares Management and Left Lane Capital, bringing its total of funds raised to $160M. The GIST spoke with LOVB CEO Katlyn Gao yesterday about what this means for the volleyball brand at every level of the game.

November 22, 2024

PVF announces broadcast coverage expansion with media partner CBS

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The Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) is gearing up for its second year ahead of next week’s draft. In an exclusive with The GIST today, PVF announced an extension of its media rights agreement with CBS through a multiyear deal that includes increased match coverage and cable air time — a historic first for women’s pro volleyball.

November 20, 2024

Gen Z, Millennial designer brand platform Revolve partners with LOVB

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Yesterday, leading volleyball brand LOVB Pro announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Revolve, the designer clothing platform beloved by Gen Z and Millennial shoppers. The deal makes Revolve the league’s official online fashion retail partner and highlights innovative ways the clothing industry can appeal to young consumers via sport.

November 13, 2024

AU Volleyball preps for fourth season as the sport takes hold at the U.S. pro level

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Athletes Unlimited (AU) is getting ready to serve up its fourth season of AU Volleyball, the month-long pro league that’s changed the game for the world’s top women volleyball players. While the sport is already highly popular in other countries, new U.S. pro leagues can offer American exposure through media, marketing, and sponsorship.

September 30, 2024

LOVB employs 75% of USA Volleyball roster for Paris 2024 Olympics

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The U.S.’ Olympic women’s volleyball roster just dropped, and there’s a lot of love for League One Volleyball (LOVB). Nine of the 12 starters and two alternates on Team USA have already signed deals with LOVB Pro, an impressive feat considering the new pro volleyball league won’t begin play until November, well after the Games.

June 07, 2024

Sports Business

LOVB enters unique multiyear partnership with smart gym company Tonal

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February 09, 2024

League One Volleyball (LOVB) and home gym system Tonal have partnered to offer volleyball-centric workout programs and a unique family-focused program. The pro women’s volleyball league won’t launch until November, but it secured Tonal’s first league partnership.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #459

WTF: Ironman reverses their equality stance

May 15, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

WTF: Ironman reverses their equality stance

Well that ain’t it.

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about Ironman (no, not this Iron Man) after the sport’s governing body recently announced that women won’t have their own championship race starting in 2026. It’s only been three years since the sport separated the women’s and men’s events — and the ripple effects of shifting back are vast.

Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz provide the context you need before digging into the details about the decision itself, including how it will disproportionately affect women competitors. Not cool.