Cassidy Lichtman: Fueling the U.S. Volleyball Revolution
Cassidy Lichtman has seen pro volleyball in the United States go from a pipe dream to a thriving reality. She came out of retirement to play in Athletes Unlimited’s very first volleyball season. It opened the door for what became a booming pro volleyball space in the U.S.
What started as a bold experiment is now the AU Pro Volleyball Championship, featuring new talent, new cities, and a growing fan base. And Lichtman’s fingerprints are all over it, as she’s gone from being a player in AU’s inaugural season to its Vice President of Volleyball and Player Relations.
Lichtman has a long international résumé, but before AU, she never imagined the U.S. pro volleyball space would become what it is today.
Her accolades speak for themselves: Named to every U.S. Women’s National Team roster in 2013, she earned two gold medals and a silver across four tournaments. She helped lead the U.S. to a Pan Am Cup title in 2012 as a starting outside hitter and earned bronze at the 2011 Pan American Games. Over her career, she collected major international medals between 2011 and 2015, including gold at the Pan Am Cup and Pan Am Games in 2015.
Still, the idea of a stable, viable U.S. pro league seemed out of reach — until AU came along.
The model caught her attention. The unique scoring, player-led structure, and weekly draft format were different. But what really stood out was the production quality.
“It’s easy to forget now, because there’s so much going on, that at the point AU launched, there was still the idea that professional level wouldn’t be a viable option in the U.S.,” Lichtman said. “And I think it was the first time that we saw professional volleyball on TV with professional production and quality around it.”
That quality matched the competition level. On opening day, it hit her just how meaningful this moment was.
“I think for my whole life, I’d been told that volleyball wouldn’t work. People wouldn’t watch it,” she said. “So for the first time, having all of the quality and then the production around it match the quality of the athletes … It was really eye-opening. And, you know, I think helped set the foundation for these next leagues as they launch.”
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Her work with the Player Executive Committee was just the beginning of her impact at AU. She helped create the league’s player-first foundation — and carried that same mindset into her current role.
“Going from being the chair of the PEC into this role, I feel like my approach and mindset haven’t changed at all, and I think that speaks a lot to AU and the relationship with the athletes,” Lichtman said. “Our athletes are so involved in the decision-making process … I think my view has just been broadened as I get further into the larger women’s sports world and learn more about the business side, how it works, and all the different factors that go into making this successful.”
Even after her official retirement from playing, Lichtman still believes in the product she’s helping push forward.
In 2016, she reached what she thought was the end of her career. But when AU launched in 2021, she came out of retirement to be part of the inaugural season. She wasn’t alone. The new league opened the door for U.S.-based pros, and others followed.
Now, with League One Volleyball, Pro Volleyball Federation, and an ever-growing pro volleyball scene, players have real options.
“There are so many athletes that are able to play here right now,” Lichtman said. “I think it allows people to play for longer. The overseas life is not always an easy one. It’s been really cool to see some of the top athletes come back and join whatever league they’re playing in, and the fact that we get to kind of complement them in other leagues is even better.”
AU still stands out because of its innovation, and that hasn’t changed with the rebrand to AU Pro Volleyball Championship.
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The league’s 2025 season will bring elite talent and head to new locations, including two volleyball-rich cities — Madison, Wis., and Omaha, Neb. Lichtman values the chance to bring high-level volleyball to fan bases that value the sport.
“We went to Madison for our Spring Tour a couple of years ago, and fans were lined up four hours before the game to get in,” Lichtman recalled. “It’s insane to go to a place like that and realize, when you invest in volleyball, people really love it … and are going to build the same kind of crazy fan base that you get for football or basketball. So that’s what I’m most excited about — going to places that understand volleyball, know the players, and bring the whole community in.”
AU also offers something other leagues don’t: the ultimate one-on-one competition.
Lichtman compares it to the NBA. Imagine if you could see LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry go head-to-head, switch teams every week, and rack up points for one cumulative end-of-the-year score. It would settle the GOAT debates in real time.
That’s the promise of the AU format.
With Olympic stars, international powerhouses, and rising American talent all in one place, the AU Pro Volleyball Championship gives fans a chance to see the best battle it out and crown one winner.
One athlete. One champion. A format that highlights the best of the best, while continuing to push volleyball into the spotlight where it belongs.
Lichtman’s message to fans? Dive into the rising level of competition and embrace the chance to be a part of a movement that’s transforming the landscape of professional volleyball in the U.S.
“I want you to care who wins. Is your favorite player in the top 10? Who’s gonna be the champion? It’s the ultimate battle to crown the best player. So get into it.”
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
