League One Volleyball announced the ownership group for LOVB Miami on Oct. 7, 2026, with Lisa Leslie leading a group of investors, athletes, entertainers, media personalities and cultural leaders. LOVB Miami will be the league’s 10th professional team and is scheduled to take the court during the 2026-27 season.
The team will compete as a founding member of LOVB Pro’s new Eastern Conference. LOVB described LOVB Miami as South Florida’s only professional women’s sports team. Roster, venue and schedule announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Lisa Leslie leads LOVB Miami ownership group
The ownership group is anchored by Suprette, Jett Sports, Fifth Down Capital, Chase Coleman, Stephanie Coleman and Jackie Garcia, the mother of UNC volleyball player Jackie Taylor. Leslie, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and four-time Olympic gold medalist, leads the group as LOVB prepares to bring professional women’s volleyball to Miami.
“I am beyond excited to invest in volleyball, my first love, in the first-ever LOVB team in South Florida. This is where we raised our family and built a solid foundation in the community. Being at the ownership table means having a voice in shaping the future of sport while creating more opportunities for athletes outside the lines. Miami deserves women’s professional sports and I am proud to be a part of the ownership group helping build it,” said Lisa Leslie, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and four-time Olympic gold medalist.
Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson also joined the ownership group as an investor. Richardson is part of a sports contingent that includes First-Ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, Super Bowl champions Carlos Dunlap and Ryan Clark, NFL All-Pro Braxton Berrios, and volleyball figures Aury Cruz, Phil Dalhausser and Tri Bourne.
Clark is also a co-founder of The Pivot Podcast and an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, while Berrios is a University of Miami alum. Cruz is described as one of the most decorated players in Puerto Rican history, Dalhausser is an Olympic gold medalist and Bourne is an Olympian.
“Women’s volleyball, just like track and field, has a powerful global presence. When I learned about the opportunity to invest in bringing a professional women’s team to Miami, a top 10 financial market, it only made sense,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Sha’Carri Richardson. “This investment is about opening doors for athletes and for the people building careers in sports.”
Entertainment, media and franchise experience
The ownership group also includes Grammy Award-winning recording artist and entrepreneur Pusha T; Forbes Top Creator, actress and former collegiate volleyball player Hannah Stocking; Olympian and former Colombian national team footballer Melissa Ortiz; former WNBA player and ESPN analyst Anne O’Neil; and former college and professional basketball player and award-winning sports broadcaster Ros Gold-Onwude.
LOVB said the group includes owners of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays and the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage. The announcement did not identify the individuals connected to those teams.
“Miami is a city that lives and breathes sport, and volleyball is at the center, from the beach to the club courts to its deep Latina, Brazilian and Caribbean volleyball communities. This is a historic moment for volleyball and for women’s professional sports. LOVB Miami’s ownership group brings together leaders who understand what it takes to compete on & off the court, build lasting impact and be innovative every step of the way. We couldn’t imagine a better group to join the LOVB family and build a legacy in Miami as the only professional women’s team,” said Sandra Idehen, Commissioner, LOVB Pro.
LOVB Miami connects to South Florida youth volleyball
LOVB identified Club 305 Volleyball, Miami Reign and Game Point Volleyball as youth clubs in the Miami area. The clubs connect LOVB Miami to LOVB’s community-up ecosystem, which includes more than 30,000 junior athletes across more than 30 states.
Fans can place a season ticket deposit for LOVB Miami’s inaugural season at lovb.com/miami. The team’s roster, venue and schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
FSB Take
LOVB Miami has established its ownership group ahead of its scheduled 2026-27 debut in LOVB Pro’s Eastern Conference. Leslie’s leadership, the involvement of volleyball figures and the connections to Club 305 Volleyball, Miami Reign and Game Point Volleyball give the team a clear South Florida foundation before its competitive details are announced. The next key updates will cover the roster, venue and schedule.
Source: Original report