LOVB Salt Lake's season ended after losing to LOVB Austin in the 2026 Championship, but they made history as the most-watched LOVB game ever, averaging 163,000 viewers.
Outside hitter and former BYU Cougar Alexa Gray attacks the ball during a match for LOVB Salt Lake against LOVB Austin on Feb. 25, 2026. | LOVB
LOVB Salt Lakeās season came to an end Saturday after falling to LOVB Austin in the 2026 LOVB Championship, but Utahās pro volleyball team still made history.
On Thursday, USA Sports announced the first of the two championship matches, in which LOVB Salt Lake won 3-2, was the most-watched LOVB game of all-time, averaging 163,000 viewers.
LOVB Austin won the second finals match and forced the finals into a Golden Set, which meant the first team to 15 points won the set and title. Austin ultimately won 15-8 to secure its second-straight championship.
The viewership for Finals Game 2 dropped slightly to 139,000 average viewers but still finished as the third most-watched LOVB game.
Rams and former BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua sat courtside at the match in Long Beach, California, at the sold-out Game 2.
Per USA Sports, the two matches combined for a 50% increase in linear viewership since LOVBās inaugural championship in 2025.
The network also saw a 164% linear viewership increase of its prime-time āGame of the Weekā airings over the course of the regular season.
A total of 7.5 million viewers watched USA Networkās LOVB coverage in 2026, a 133% increase, according to the network.
LOVB Salt Lake was one of six inaugural LOVB Pro volleyball teams to begin play in 2025. The league will add teams in San Francisco, Minnesota and Los Angeles next season.
Almost a month before the championship, the team was acquired by Synergy Sports Capital, led by former NFL players Terrence C. Murphy Sr. and Heisman winner Reggie Bush.
The first championship match featuring LOVB Salt Lake averaged 163,000 viewers, making it the most-watched LOVB game of all time.
LOVB Austin won the 2026 LOVB Championship after defeating LOVB Salt Lake in a Golden Set.
The championship match ended with LOVB Austin winning the Golden Set 15-8, securing their second consecutive title.
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Murphy told the Deseret News in March that LOVB Salt Lake had āthe most upsideā of the teams,
āJust the way they play and (Jordyn) Poulter, the setter, the libero, (Manami Kojima) ā that core team, we want to keep together as long as possible and just keep adding more talent,ā Murphy said.
LOVB Salt Lake dominated in its second season, including a 7-1 run to start the season and later a strong playoff run.