Scripps Sports has formed an exclusive broadcast partnership with Major League Volleyball (MLV) to bring the league’s championship to ION, The EW Scripps Company’s national sports and entertainment network that reaches every U.S. television home via over-the-air, as well as all major subscription television services and connected/FAST platforms. ION will live stream the final two MLV matches on May 7, 2026, as well as the grand final on Saturday, May 9, with the host city to be announced soon. The MLV is the latest addition to Scripps Sports’ robust women’s sports portfolio, which already includes the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The announcement of the partnership with MLV follows Scripps Sports’ recent coverage of the Athlos NYC 2025 event, a first-of-its-kind all-female track and field competition held in October. Additionally, coming to ION this fall is the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off, a premier women’s college basketball tournament held over Thanksgiving weekend. In a historic move for the sport last summer, the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and Major League Volleyball announced plans for a single unified league, aimed at boosting women’s professional volleyball in the United States.
The MLV, whose inaugural season will begin in January 2026, is an evolution of the PVF, and the upcoming campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season. The competition will feature eight teams based in Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando and San Diego, and will expand to ten in 2027 with the addition of franchises in Northern California and Washington, D.C. The selection of the next group of notable players to join Major League Volleyball will take place on November 24, during the 2025 MLV Draft, where teams will choose the new additions.
Additional details, including on-air talent and broadcast times, will be announced at a later date. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
