LOVB San Francisco Expands Ownership Group, Accelerating Volleyball's Rise as America's Breakout Sport

San Francisco, CA – April 2, 2026 – LOVB San Francisco Volleyball today announced a significant expansion of its ownership group, bringing together a powerful cohort of leaders united by the shared conviction that professional volleyball is poised to become America’s next breakout sport.

As the Bay Area expansion team of League One Volleyball (LOVB), set to debut in January 2027, the team is assembling one of the most forward-looking and intentionally women-led ownership groups in professional sports. The latest additions span sports, business, media, and culture, underscoring volleyball’s accelerating momentum and growing relevance across the United States.

The new ownership group members include former professional volleyball player, three-time Olympian and Chairwoman of the KYK Foundation YK Kim; professional basketball player and Stanford graduate Lexie Hull; soccer legend, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Stanford graduate Julie Foudy; the Kerr family, including former UC Berkeley volleyball player Maddy Kerr Hyde, Margot Kerr and nine-time champion basketball player and coach Steve Kerr; rock icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Joan Jett; former professional basketball player Chelsea Poppens; sports, media & digital executive Christina Miller; Hall of Fame sports journalist Holly Rowe; 72andSunny CEO and former D1 volleyball player Evin Shutt; 72andSunny founder and creative executive Glenn Cole; education leader and former University of San Francisco volleyball player Jennifer Cole; founder and CEO of The Female Longevity Institute Lynn Jurich; founder of TaskRabbit and managing director of Precedent.vc Leah Solivan; Hillary Murphy of the Mirnahill Foundation; tech executive Leslie Witt; tech and social impact leader Courtney Diesel O’Donnell; eye surgeon and investor Huckleberry “Huck” Holz, MD; design executive Cindy Mock; entertainment and hospitality executive Patrick Mock; tech and innovation executive Neha Jogani Narang; entrepreneur and marketing tech executive Arlene Villanueva Unverzagt; entrepreneur Aaron Unverzagt; portfolio manager Dave Russell; food entrepreneurs Alan Razzaghi and Winnie Tong; entrepreneur and volleyball parent Mike Su; sports marketing executive Kristen Gambetta; women's empowerment advocate and women’s sports investor Kim Rubey; Rachel Springate and Assia Grazioli Venier of Muse Capital/ Muse Sport; sports executive Magdalena “Mags” Kala; Katie Markov, technology and innovation executive, founder; Samantha Hoag, tech operator and investor; and Nikita & Ranvir Gujral.

“We’re designing more than a traditional ownership structure, we’re assembling a collective of builders who see where volleyball is going in this country and want to help shape it, here in the Bay Area.” said Jes Wolfe, LOVB San Francisco owner and chairwoman. “Together, we’re creating something that reflects this community and sets a new standard for the positive impact a professional team can have on the sport and its athletes.”

These individuals join an already distinguished ownership group that includes an influential mix of current and former athletes, executives, and cultural leaders who are helping to define the future of women’s sports like Jes Wolfe, Chantell Preston, Stephanie Martin, Kelsey Cook, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, Alix Klineman, Lindsey Berg, Ali Riley, Natalie Coughlin, Alysia Montano, Ari Chambers, Meghan O’Leary, Kate Johnson, Zack and Adlee Kass and more. The group is also one of the most decorated in history with 32 Olympic medals plus multiple world championship and national titles. 

LOVB San Francisco is being built as both a professional team and a broader platform for community, culture, and connection in the Bay Area. From its “Name the Team” campaign to founding membership initiatives like The Nine, the organization is prioritizing community participation from day one, inviting fans to help shape the identity, traditions, and future of the franchise. Hundreds of names have already been submitted since the vote’s launch.

“We’re focused on building something the community can truly be part of, not just as fans, but as active participants,” said Stephanie Martin, owner and president of LOVB San Francisco. “We believe volleyball is on the path to becoming one of the defining sports in the U.S., and there’s no better place for that future to take hold than the Bay Area, with the region’s deep talent, passionate fan base and leadership in women’s sports.”

LOVB San Francisco will begin play in January 2027, bringing professional volleyball to one of the most dynamic sports markets in the country. 

As part of League One Volleyball’s expanding professional league, the team represents a strategic step forward in the sport’s national growth. The Bay Area’s strong volleyball participation, elite collegiate programs, and track record of innovation in women’s sports make it a natural cornerstone for what comes next..