Wheeling, W. Va. – On the volleyball court, Wheeling Volleyball senior Libero Melia Gorrell is challenged with holding down the back line for the Cardinals. Over the next 18 days, the senior will be taking on a new challenge, the “Power of 18” Challenge supporting the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society. Gorrell’s brother Evan is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 18 P-, and she is working to raise money and awareness for research to help people learn more about the disorder and its effects. 

“It means a lot to know that I am able to help my brother and others with this fundraiser,” said Gorrell. “The Chromosome 18 Registry has done an amazing job with research and events. I am grateful that I am able to help and contribute to their efforts.” 

The Power of 18 Challenge is an annual event run through the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society that runs from August 1st through August 18th. During that time, participants pick a challenge or goal that they want to reach in 18 days and they can do it either solo or as a team. These can include things like running a mile for 18 days straight, practicing a new skill, or posting facts about Chromosome 18 on Social Media. Participants then let their family and friends know about their challenge on social media and try to get people to sponsor them for at least $1 per day for 18 days. Every donation makes a huge different and can help make chromosome 18 conditions the first treatable chromosome abnormality. 

During her Power of 18 Challenge, Gorrell will be running a mile everyday for 18 days in order to raise both money and awareness for those diagnosed with Chromosome 18. It is a cause that hits home for Gorrell and her family, as he brother Evan is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 18 P-. Gorrell and her Cardinal Volleyball team have done their part to help raise awareness, holding an annual Chromosome 18 Awareness weekend in each of the past three seasons to help raise awareness and money for the Chromosome 18 Foundation.  

The Chromosome 18 Foundation helps to serve over 6,000 families across the world who are either dealing with or caring for someone who has a chromosome 18 disorder. Their mission includes three main pillars, nurturing a compassionate community, enhancing education, and driving innovative research. Together they look to offer a shared journey of learning, emotional support, and hope. 

To help support Gorrell’s Power of 18 Challenge, click HERE. To learn more about the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society, you can visit their website by clicking HERE. 

The 2025 NWSL regular season returned this past weekend after a month-long international break, and the San Diego Wave are already ahead of schedule.

Because after a tumultuous end to 2024 followed by offseason roster and front office shakeups, the club has so far exceeded the soccer world’s — and possibly even their own — expectations.

San Diego entered the second half of the year in third place in the NWSL standings, having lost only one of their last nine games before play suspended in late June. Along the way, the club produced a legitimate 2025 MVP candidate in forward Delphine Cascarino while also leaning hard into the league’s youth movement, becoming the first NWSL club to start three 17-year-olds in the same match.

But as the second season starts to rev up, there are still lingering questions about the team’s ability to create consistency on the pitch — not to mention the club’s big picture plans. 

The Wave know they don’t have everything figured out just yet. But it’s safe to say the light at the end of the tunnel showed up far sooner on the field than expected for a young team riding out a game-changing season.

Veteran Kailen Sheridan sees San Diego start anew

At the end of 2024, all San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan wanted was a break from soccer.

A member of the Wave since their inaugural 2022 season, Sheridan saw her team abruptly plummet down the NWSL table after winning the shield in 2023, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in club history. 

And the trouble wasn’t contained to the field. Amid the skid, the Wave parted ways with head coach Casey Stoney, dealt with allegations of front office toxicity† linked to club president Jill Ellis, and saw USWNT legend and founding Wave star Alex Morgan’s surprise retirement.

“I remember at the end of last season being kind of bombarded with everything, and not sure how we were moving forward,” Sheridan told Just Women’s Sports. “I want to be the best version of myself on the field and off the field. The people who were left felt that as well, and we needed some time away.”

After a disappointing finish, San Diego saw further roster shifts dominate the offseason headlines. USWNT defender Naomi Girma transferred to WSL side Chelsea for a then-record transfer fee, while star-in-the-making Jaedyn Shaw requested a trade to the North Carolina Courage. Change appeared to be chasing the Wave whether the club’s remaining players were ready or not.

“Honestly, it was a really rough couple of weeks,” Sheridan continued. “But once we got out, we could turn our focus onto what this year could look like, how we could have a really strong year but also focus on our growth.”

The growing pains hurt. But as more changes brought a shift in leadership and perspective, a blank slate also began to emerge. The team entered 2025 under new ownership. Ellis left for a role at FIFA while former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall took over as head coach, setting a fresh tone across the franchise.

“For me, it was coming in with less expectation,” said Sheridan. “More just being ready to work and put in the effort to create a new culture.”

Young Wave star Trinity Armstrong takes a leap of faith

After winning a national championship in her first season with UNC, then-17-year-old Trinity Armstrong was looking for a challenge.

She decided to turn professional in 2025. She then entered the NWSL under the U18 mechanism — a legal process that allows underage players to pick their pro teams. The wide-open nature of San Diego’s rebuild spoke to her.

“It felt like the best environment for me. To not only try and earn a spot, but then be a consistent starter,” she told JWS. After Girma’s transfer, the team needed a new cornerstone center-back. Armstrong felt emboldened by conversations with Eidevall about the team’s developing defensive identity.

Armstrong was keenly aware of the legacy left by departed Wave superstars like Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. She liked the idea of adding to that history while also making her own mark as her star grew.

“It felt like they had their own successes in the past. But from what I was hearing coming in, it was basically a brand new team,” she continued. “I was very excited to be a part of that young group to rebrand ourselves and push forward.”

In January, Armstrong signed a three-year deal with the Wave. And she already has 11 starts under her belt this season. She’s particularly effective in possession, completing nearly 90% of her passes with the ability to cut through lines to spring play forward.

Teen Wave stars write a new chapter

Armstrong became a key component to the Wave’s rebuild. She joined fellow teen talents Melanie Barcenas and Kimmy Ascanio playing Eidevall’s preferred style of purposeful possession. In Eidevall’s game plan, San Diego holds the lion’s share of the ball, executing plays at a tempo that sets defenses on their heels. 

The Wave relied on established internationals like Sheridan and Cascarino to propel them forward with consistency. But transitioning to quickly developing the team’s youngsters also sets the club up for years to come.

“We were unsure of how they would gel at such a young age. And honestly, they’ve blown all of us away,” Sheridan said of her new teammates. “We’ve been really impressed with their mentality — and their desire.”

The respect is mutual. Armstrong credits Sheridan with helping her adjust while adopting the same emphasis on growth that’s become the team’s calling card.

“Kailen, coming in, she’s been such a great mentor to me,” Armstrong said. “She’s been super encouraging. I can only speak good things about her.”

San Diego finds its footing on the pitch

It’s easy enough for confidence-building and good vibes to carry a team through preseason training. But once the regular-season whistle blew, both veterans and newcomers were happily surprised at how quickly they were able to produce.

“It was just so beautiful to see us connecting, seeing our midfield and our forward line have these great combinations and getting really good goals off of them,” said Armstrong. “This could really be something that pushes us all the way to the championship.”

“I honestly wasn’t 100% confident in how successful we would be putting it all together right away,” Sheridan recalled. “It’s great to see that we’ve been able to get through those first couple hurdles of gelling and creating chemistry. We’ll still hit a bunch of bumps going forward, but ultimately, I was confident in the individual talent.”

Much of the credit goes to the homegrown focus Eidevall imparted on his new squad within his first few weeks.

“The drive was, how do I make each player better?” Sheridan said of her coach’s approach. “That was humongous for us.”

Eidevall made headlines during his time at Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups but could never seriously endanger Chelsea FC’s dominant run. When the 42-year-old crossed over to the NWSL after mutually parting ways with the WSL last October, he arrived with a bottom-up perspective.

His players have responded in kind. 

“The mindset to want to grow, to want to develop, that’s been great from the players and from the staff,” he recently told reporters. “The commitment to the team and to the group, that’s such an important aspect. And you can see that these players create something special between them.”

Anchors of the central defense, Sheridan and Armstrong both enjoy playing technical football. They like the ball at their feet, connecting out of the back to set up the dynamic midfield, and setting their frontline free.

With half a season to go, San Diego has already scored more goals than they did in the entire 2024 season. It resulted in the third-best goal differential in the NWSL standings.

“It’s a very tight team,” added Eidevall. “We see that when players are coming on from  the bench. We see how the bench and the starting XI interact. And that’s very important because at the end of the day, this is team sport.”

Marching into the NWSL season’s back half

July’s break allowed players across the league the opportunity to reset. Armstrong spent her days caring for her rescue pit bull mix Mochi — adopted a few months ago from the local Humane Society — going on hikes and taking trips to the beach. She also celebrated her 18th birthday, graduating from the separate U18 locker room shared with Barcenas and Ascanio to join the rest of the team.

But while the Wave’s turnaround looks to be in full swing, the real tests might still lie ahead. No longer a surprise, their opponents can now review tape on the team’s first-half successes. They’re able to better counter San Diego’s new form.

On Saturday, the Wave restarted their 2025 campaign with another positive result, though one tempered with missed opportunities. Despite both out-possessing and generating more attack than the North Carolina Courage, San Diego settled for a scoreless draw. The outcome pointed to a strong performance from the defense, while also showcasing yet another opportunity for growth.

Sheridan doesn’t appear to be too rattled. Returning refreshed, she’s confident in her team’s ability to recapture the continuity they so fluidly created at the beginning of the season. Just so long as they stick together.

“We’ve started with a mindset of ‘Okay, we’re back at zero,'” Sheridan said. “How do we want this to look, and how do we want to go forward from here?”

†An October 2024 lawsuit filed by five former club employees alleging the Wave of workplace misconduct remains active and unresolved.

SACRAMENTO – In a landmark move for the sport, Pro Volleyball Federation and Major League Volleyball have announced plans for a single, united league poised to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States.

The unified league will be branded as MLV. 

The unification and modernization of the business model will bring new team owners, league governance, ownership standards, and an innovative approach to off-court player opportunities and fan engagement.

MLV will feature the following team lineup for 2026: Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando, and San Diego.

In 2027, the league is slated to expand with two more franchises, with the addition of teams in Washington, D.C., and Northern California. These teams will use 2026 to introduce fans to the league in advance of their inaugural seasons.

The Northern California team is majority-owned by entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé, and DC is owned by the controlling partners of D.C. United.

“To see the sport continue to grow with the consolidation of these teams and their leaders elevates the excitement level to new heights,” said Jen Spicher, Pro Volleyball Federation’s chief executive officer.

“Our belief in the team-ownership model that we played under for the first two seasons is stronger than ever and will showcase the sport at a greater level throughout the nation.”

MLV will be the longest-running professional women’s volleyball league and the only one operating with independently owned teams in-market, alongside a league structure built to resemble those at the pinnacle of sports. It will build on its first two seasons, which saw digital engagement of more than 80 million social impressions, nearly one million total engagements, and over 250,000 social followers.

In addition, attendance has reached more than 750,000 over the first two campaigns, with 45 nationally-televised matches – including an inaugural All-Star Match that drew a peak viewership of 445,000 on CBS network television.

Scheduled to begin play in January 2026, MLV is an evolution of PVF, and the upcoming campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season. The new structure and brand have been established to provide a centralized, elite platform for the sport, delivering world-class competition. It represents a step forward for women’s pro volleyball, intending to elevate the sport among America’s major leagues.

The 2026 season will start with the opening of the free agency signing period on Thursday, Aug. 7. At that time, teams will begin to construct their rosters in the hopes of capturing the MLV Championship.

“I’m incredibly excited to bring MLV to Northern California,” said Ranadivé. “Women’s volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with fan interest and viewership at an all-time high. We have a unique opportunity to build something special, elevate these phenomenal athletes, and create unforgettable fan experiences.”

The San Diego Mojo women’s professional volleyball team is a founding member of Major League Volleyball. The team is owned by longtime San Diegan and UC San Diego alum Gary E. Jacobs, a co-founder and chairman of the board of the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School and managing director of Jacobs Investment Company.

Defending champions Malory Eagles – who also won the Women the MAAREE Women’s Super League title in April – will host fellow Final 4 qualifiers last season, London Vinarius, in a mouth-watering all-London tie. 

In the men’s draw, National Cup winners in 2024, Durham Palatinates, will host DYNAMIK Men’s Super League winners in 2025, London Giants. 

Both the women’s and the men’s National Cups this coming season will feature England U20 teams, who will play their opening matches away from home. 

The women’s team who will be coached by Darren Lewis, will face last season’s National Shield semi-finalists, Northampton. 

The men, meanwhile, who will be led into action by Sam Shenton, will make the trip to the capital to take on Division 1 side London Aces. 

Other ties of note in the women’s competition see Super League Durham Platinates host Loughborough Students and Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels travel to another top-flight side in Darkstar Derbyshire, who reached the semi-final last season. 

Super League sides Essex Rebels and Team SideOut Polonia were among those given byes. 

In the men’s section, Richmond Docklands, who preserved their Super League status for this coming season via the end-of-season play-offs visit Tamworth Spartans, while Leeds Gorse, newly-promoted back to Super League for 2025-26, go to Loughborough Students. 

Reigning champions Essex Rebels will begin their title defence by hosting Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels. 

Byes were handed to the likes of Malory Eagles, who have made the quarter-finals for each of the last 20 years, 2025 National Shield winners Wessex and 2016 and 2017 winners IBB Polonia London. 

The Last 64 and Last 32 ties of the National Shield were also drawn among a record 163 teams entering the four competitions. 

You can watch the full draws for all of those matches on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel here. 

Following three preliminary ties played on 6th and 7th September, Last 64 National Shield ties will be played on 27th and 28th September, while Last 32 matches in both competitions will take place on 1st and 2nd November.