Pro volleyball is planting its flag in the South Bay. LOVB Los Angeles, League One Volleyball's seventh franchise, unveiled a 13-player inaugural roster on Wednesday, July 15, anchored by three Olympic medalists and several Southern California natives who will play their first competitive season in 2027.
The team makes its public debut Saturday, July 19, at California Surf Club in Redondo Beach, with athlete meet-and-greets, a player panel discussion, and merchandise sales.
The headliners
Three Olympic medalists anchor the roster. Opposite hitter Annie Drews Schumacher won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games and silver at the 2024 Paris Games. Outside hitter Kathryn Plummer Boden of Aliso Viejo, a three-time NCAA champion at Stanford and two-time AVCA National Player of the Year, earned silver in Paris. Setter Carli Lloyd of Bonsall — the volleyball player, not the soccer star — took bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.
The SoCal pipeline runs deep. Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu of Cerritos played for LOVB Atlanta during the league's 2026 season before joining the L.A. expansion. Middle blocker Samantha Francis (San Diego) and setter Rachel Fairbanks (Tustin) round out the local contingent on a roster that spans six countries.
What the franchise is building
Team president Ana Mendy framed the ambition in a Wednesday statement: "Our vision isn't simply to launch another professional team; it's to build the flagship franchise for volleyball, a team that represents this city, inspires the next generation, and gives one of the world's greatest volleyball communities a club to call their own."
LOVB Los Angeles joins expansion siblings LOVB Minnesota and LOVB San Francisco when the league grows from six to nine teams for its third pro season in 2027. The existing six franchises — Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska, and Salt Lake — collectively hold 21 NCAA Division I titles, 101 AVCA All-American awards, and 23 Olympic medals among their players, according to USA Today.
South Bay connection
California Surf Club, a 22,000-square-foot seaside compound at 239 North Harbor Dr. in Redondo Beach, was built by Allen Sanford and Rob Lissner, the duo behind the annual BeachLife Festival. The club operates as a private membership space but offers day passes.
The franchise launch also aligns with Los Angeles' preparation to host the 2028 Olympic Games, where indoor volleyball will be played at Anaheim Arena.
No head coach has been announced. The seven remaining roster spots beyond the six named players have not been publicly identified.
