Women’s volleyball is booming in 2022. Teams — and investors — are taking notice.

Last year’s NCAA championship game drew 1.2 million viewers on ESPN2, making it the most-viewed women’s college volleyball match ever on ESPN’s networks. The total marked a 71 percent increase from the spring championship and a 119 percent uptick from 2019.

The championship benefited from the two contenders — Wisconsin and Nebraska, both traditionally strong programs — but momentum has continued this season.

At No. 1 Texas, which is headed to the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the 10th time in the last 15 years, senior outside hitter Logan Eggleston has noticed the change.

“I would kind of compare it to a Duke basketball game, if I’m being honest,” Eggleston told the Wall Street Journal. “The crowds are right on top of you. It’s super loud. You can’t even think when you’re in a game.”

The Longhorns will face No. 2 seed San Diego in their semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, while No. 1 seed in Louisville will go up against No. 2 seed Pittsburgh at 9:30 p.m. ET. Both matches will air on ESPN.

The national championship match is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

This ➡️ Omaha#HookEm pic.twitter.com/mvXn3zu19R

— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) December 13, 2022

In September, Florida took down Wisconsin on the Badgers’ home floor in front of 17,000 fans, the largest regular-season crowd in NCAA Division I history. The match broke a record that had been set just weeks earlier by Nebraska and Creighton.

The Big Ten noticed these trends and got ahead of them. In August, the conference announced new TV deals with ESPN and Big Ten Network during the first Big Ten volleyball media days. The Big Ten became the first conference to hold an in-person preseason volleyball media event.

Those investments paid off, as a rematch between Nebraska and Wisconsin on Black Friday drew 587,000 viewers on Big Ten Network. The most-watched volleyball match in the channel’s 15-year history, that total marked a 54 percent increase over the previous high.

Other schools and other conferences are getting in on the excitement as well. In April, Vanderbilt announced that it would be bringing back its volleyball program, which had been cut in 1980.

The rising popularity of college volleyball also has brought a rise in youth participation and professional leagues.

In February 2021, Athletes Unlimited launched a volleyball league that currently operates in five-week seasons each year. AU announced in November a spring tour, which will bring a roster of 15 players to compete against some of the top college programs in the country. During the 2023 regular season, at least 10 of the league’s 30 matches will air on ESPN’s networks.

The number of professional leagues in the United States is also slated to increase

Pro Volleyball Federation is scheduled to begin play in February 2024 with eight to 10 teams. They’ll aim to pay players anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Then there’s League One Volleyball (LOVB), which aims to start after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

LOVB’s structure will look similar to European soccer clubs, with youth teams that will then connect to professional clubs. Right now, the league has 30 clubs across 18 states, with 769 total teams.

LOVB has brought in $24 million in investments, including from Billie Jean King and Kevin Durant. And on Tuesday, they announced their first two signings: Olympic gold medalists Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes.

“Kelsey and Justine are no strangers to being the face of women’s volleyball in the U.S.,” league CEO Katlyn Gao said. “They have led the US to victory in the Olympics, have been NCAA champions, and have made game-winning plays that still have fans buzzing today.

“Having them join LOVB as we build the United States’ first full-season professional league is nothing short of exhilarating and we look forward to not only putting these outstanding athletes on center court, but to giving their passionate fanbase an all new avenue in which to celebrate their love of the game.”

What a year. We spent the year working towards something great, and built a great community. We're accomplishing something BIG, BOLD & MEANINGFUL, & we’re doing it together. We move with unwavering discipline because we're building a legacy. And we’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/l6X9tLr0ZE

— League One Volleyball (@leagueonevb) December 1, 2022

Robinson “jumped at the chance” to play with LOVB, she said. She league’s roots in the community made it stand out for her — and will make it more sustainable, she added.

“It’s thrilling to be part of a women-led professional volleyball league that will not only provide its players with endless opportunities, but will deliver exactly what this sport needs,” she said.

The league aims to provide competitive salaries that include marketing contracts, healthcare benefits, childcare and fertility services and more. Additionally, the league will look to help players advance in their professional careers for when they’re done playing.

“Working with a league that puts a premium on what its players want is crucial for our sport,” Wong-Orantes said. “LOVB has brought together eight of the most recognized players to meet regularly and discuss everything from our big picture needs to the most nuanced details.

“As an athlete, it’s rare to have the opportunity to shape the face of a sports league, and I’m thrilled to be getting in on the ground floor of building what is bound to be a revolutionary offering.”

After a dramatic 3-0 win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Saturday, Manchester City is now leading the WSL, sitting three points clear atop the 2025/26 league table while notably extending their advantage over second-place powerhouse Chelsea FC.

The home side scored all three of their goals in the first half, with defender Rebecca Knaak putting City ahead in the 26th minute before attacker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw added to the lead in the 43rd minute.

Returning from injury with a vengeance, forward Lauren Hemp sealed the deal for the Citizens with the final goal in first-half stoppage time.

"It's so nice to be back," Hemp said postgame. "Today we showed the mentality that I said at the start we needed to show."

While reigning six-time WSL champions Chelsea have yet to lose a match this WSL season, a trio of 2025/26 draws has the Blues now trailing the current eight-win, one-loss record held by Manchester City.

As for United, the WSL third-place Red Devils were without star goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in Saturday's loss, after the USWNT net-minder suffered a fractured eye socket in November 8th's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

"She should be fine, it's just trying to make sure she doesn't get another knock in that area," said United manager Marc Skinner, noting that Tullis-Joyce could return as soon as the club's 2025/26 Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

One of this season's NWSL Coach of the Year finalists is moving on up, with Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski leaving his position as the Current's head coach to become the club's full-time global sporting director.

Andonovski has been juggling both jobs since joining the Current in October 2023, with the 49-year-old coming off what was arguably his most successful managerial season, leading Kansas City to a first-ever NWSL Shield amidst a record-shattering 2025 campaign.

In his new role, Andonovski will "implement the long-term vision for the club's technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting."

"It's vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent," Andonovski said in Friday's club announcement.

With the administrative switch in the works prior to last weekend's playoff upset, Andonovski will now join the hiring committee tasked with appointing his successor, while continuing his head coaching duties until Kansas City secures its new manager.

In another front office shift, the Current's head of soccer operations Ryan Dell will immediately take over as the club's GM, with former GM Caitlin Carducci departing the club after one year at the helm.

Michigan women's basketball is on the rise, as the then-No. 14 Wolverines avenged their early 2025 NCAA tournament exit with a stunning 93-54 blowout win over then-No. 18 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson led the game in scoring with 20 points as the Wolverines put together a true team effort, with six bench players combining for 38 points in the win.

The Big Ten team also dominated defensively, limiting the Fighting Irish bench to just two points while keeping Notre Dame star guard Hannah Hidalgo to a mere 12-point performance.

"We knew exactly what Michigan was going to do," said Notre Dame basketball head coach Niele Ivey afterwards. "We did not have any type of fight defensively, and that's where we have to start."

The Wolverines' victory was especially sweet after Notre Dame ousted Michigan from last season's national tournament with a 76-55 second-round Irish win.

Saturday's fallout also affected this week's AP Top 25 poll, with Notre Dame falling six ranks to No. 24 while Michigan earned an eight-spot bump to No. 6.

After quietly recruiting five-star talents like Olson and Syla Swords in 2024, Michigan — a program that has yet to earn a title at the NCAA or conference level — proved over the weekend that they are entering the 2025/26 season with added depth and experience.

"That's why I committed to Michigan," Swords told JWS at October's Big Ten Media Day. "That's why so many of us came there, because we wanted to be part of something new, part of something that's never been done."

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is back in action, subbing into her team's 2025 NWSL semifinal win in Saturday's 90th minute as she continues to rehab a sprained MCL — with questions still remaining surrounding her future with the club.

"It felt amazing," she said afterwards. "If I get 30 seconds, or if I get 90 minutes, it feels great to be out there."

Rodman will hope for more involvement in next weekend's NWSL Championship game, taking the pitch for the Spirit in her final match under contact before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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The USWNT standout's extension negotiations have apparently made it all the way up to the NWSL commissioner, with Rodman garnering interest from multiple UK clubs willing to outspend the US league's salary cap restrictions.

The NWSL's most recent collective bargaining agreement sets each club's current salary cap at $3.3 million, which will titrate up to $5.1 million by 2030.

"Right now, my head's completely down. It's been so distracting being injured, and that's all I can really think about," Rodman said on Saturday, addressing the reports. "Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like for me."

With rumors swirling around Rodman and her future with the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman defended the salary cap this week, telling CBS Sports that the parity the cap fosters is "the reason our league is the most competitive league in the world."