Major League Volleyball Grows National Presence with LA Team
SPORTS
Ben Priest, Alisha Childress and Patrick Soon-Shiong will lead MLV LA.
Los Angeles has the Lakers, the Rams, the Dodgers, and LAFC. Soon, it will have a professional volleyball franchise built to stand alongside them.
Major League Volleyball announced this week the launch of its Los Angeles franchise, set to debut in the 2027 season. The team is backed by serious ownership, serious coaching credentials, and a vision that goes well beyond just adding another market to the league map. This is a deliberate, well-resourced bet that Los Angeles is ready to become one of the premier professional volleyball cities in the world.
The Ownership Group Behind the Vision
Leading the franchise is Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, biotech billionaire, media innovator, and minority stakeholder in the Los Angeles Lakers. Dr. Soon-Shiong brings not just capital but a track record of building at the intersection of technology, media, and entertainment. His involvement signals that this franchise is being constructed with infrastructure and ambition well beyond what a typical expansion announcement might suggest.
Alongside him is Ben Priest, who will serve as governor and managing partner. Priest is no newcomer to MLV, he was one of the architects of the league itself and previously served as governing owner of the Omaha Supernovas. He knows exactly what it takes to build a competitive franchise from the ground up.
"Los Angeles gives us a unique opportunity to bring together elite competition, advanced technology, media innovation, and world-class infrastructure in a way that can redefine the future of professional volleyball," said Dr. Soon-Shiong. "We believe this franchise can help elevate the sport onto the global stage while inspiring the next generation of athletes, fans, and communities."
A Coach Built for This Moment
On the court, the franchise will be guided by Alisha Childress, named the team's first head of competition and head coach. An Olympian and three-time NCAA Champion, Childress brings the kind of résumé that commands immediate respect, named the top player at her position on multiple occasions throughout a decorated playing career, she now brings that competitive excellence into coaching.
"Los Angeles deserves a pro volleyball franchise that reflects the ambition, diversity, and energy of this city," Childress said. "Our goal is to build a world-class environment where elite athletes can compete, grow, and inspire the next generation."
Why LA?
MLV Commissioner Jaime Weston was direct about what makes this market so compelling: "LA has all the ingredients to become one of the premier professional volleyball markets in the world, a strong volleyball community, deep ties to sports and entertainment, and fans who embrace live events and big moments."
With the 2028 Olympics headed to Los Angeles and volleyball's national profile continuing to rise, the timing couldn't be sharper. The franchise will be anchored at the NantWorks campus in El Segundo, serving as the hub for team operations and athlete performance.
Official team branding and the inaugural creative campaign are set to be unveiled in the coming weeks. For professional volleyball in America, the Los Angeles era is just beginning, and it already looks like it means business.
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