With an ESPN agreement and a spring exhibition tour in 2023, Athletes Unlimited expands the US women’s volleyball professional league.
With a new media rights arrangement with the world-famous cable sports channel ESPN for its third women’s championship season in the fall of 2023, the Athletes Unlimited volleyball sector will grow. The entire 30-match season will be shown exclusively live on ESPN’s television networks and ESPN+ in the months of October and November, complementing its coverage of NCAA women’s volleyball at the same time. This is a novelty given that the first two seasons of the pro volleyball league were held at the beginning of those years.
In the spring, a brand-new exhibition volleyball tour will be added. The Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Exhibition Tour will send a group of its professional athletes across the country to compete in exhibition games against top college programs in an effort to raise awareness of the sport among amateur players and provide a sneak peek at the upcoming fall championship season. Fifteen of the best professional volleyball players will visit eight of the best college programs (including six of the top 15 schools in the current volleyball rankings) and play exhibition matches on their campuses during the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Exhibition Tour, which will start on March 23 and last through April 21. The Athletes Unlimited pros will split into two teams for a head-to-head exhibition at two of the biggest youth tournaments in the United States. Along with the games, Athletes Unlimited athletes will host clinics, and visit clubs, schools, and community events in the area to promote the sport and generate interest in the fall Athletes Unlimited Volleyball championship season.
