A VISion Rooted in Purpose
In the competitive landscape of professional sports, success is often driven by a clear and powerful VISion. For League One Volleyball (LOVB), that VISion comes from President Rosie Spaulding. “Our vision at LOVB is that professional women’s volleyball will become the next major league,” she says. “And, from the start until now, our vision hasn’t wavered.”
LOVB was founded not just as a league, but as a movement—dedicated to empowering women and girls through volleyball. “This includes personal and professional development opportunities both on and off the court, and providing a clear pathway for girls coming up through the sport to play at the highest level in the U.S.,” Spaulding says.
After just one season, Spaulding says that this VISion is already becoming reality. “It’s been incredible to be able to bring our mission to life… LOVB is already being hailed by national and international global volleyball experts as one of the top three leagues in the world,” she says.
Reimagining What a League Can Be
Spaulding stepped into her role with no pre-established infrastructure, which turned out to be a strength. “Unlike other leagues that have had the benefit of a halo effect from pre-est
ablished men’s teams, or already well-known stars in the States, when I started at LOVB, we started from scratch,” Spaulding explains. This allowed her and her team to create their own blueprint for what a professional sports league could look like.
“It has allowed me to inspire the team to challenge the status quo, to do it better and, and to build what we believe today’s women athletes deserve,” Spaulding ex
plains. “It has given us the room to attract media partners like ESPN, who so believed in what we were building that they signed on before we even launched our first serve.”
Spaulding sees effective leadership in women’s sports as a mix of ambition, resilience, and flexibility. “An unwavering drive and commitment to deliver the be
st experience we can… the grace to test, sometimes fail, and learn… and also a strong consistency in execution,” she says. “With growth, you need to be fluid… But, you also need to remain steadfast in your vision.”
“It has allowed me to inspire the team to challenge the status quo, to do it better, and to build what we believe today’s women athletes deserve.”
Building a Lasting Legacy
LOVB isn’t just a league—it’s part of a broader movement to transform the landscape of women’s sports. “From our inception, we have applied an athlete-first approach to everything we do,” says Spaulding. “This includes: competitive salaries, expansive health benefits from mental health support to paid parental leave… and building athletes’ brand legacies.”
That commitment extends to future generations as well. “To create a sustainable and successful league for the long-term, it's crucial to work with the next generation,” Spaulding emphasizes. “Through LOVB, we are building a true youth-to-pro community—where our youth athletes are inspired by our Pros, and our Pro athletes get to be heroes and role models for the next generation.”
The league’s long-term ambitions are grounded in building something meaningful and enduring. “We’re not in a race to the finish,” Spaulding says. “Instead, we are building a sustainable league that will be successful for years to come… and firmly believe that one day people won’t be able to remember a time before LOVB Pro.”
