Courtney Thompson Breaks Down LOVB Finals as Championship Series Begins
The League One Volleyball Championship series begins Thursday night, and the championship round between Austin and Salt Lake looks to deliver the same level of intensity after golden sets decided the semifinal matchups. Austin returns with a chance to defend its title, while Salt Lake bounced back from a late-season slide to knock off top-seeded Houston.
Courtney Thompson, a two-time Olympic medalist, LOVB Head of Player Experience, and USA Network analyst, has had a front-row seat to the playoff action from the broadcast booth.
Here’s what Thompson had to say about the championship matchup.
Semifinals Deliver High-Level Play
Both semifinal series came down to golden sets, adding another layer of pressure to the postseason format and setting the tone heading into the finals.
“It exceeded my expectations, and [was] just so much fun,” Thompson said. “I always think the semis are sometimes the hardest match. It’s typically like the best volleyball… I’m anticipating some very good volleyball.”
Salt Lake Finds Its Rhythm at the Right Time
Salt Lake opened the season 8-1 before a midseason stretch marked by injuries and inconsistency. They went 2-9 the rest of the regular season. The group regrouped in time for the playoffs and knocked off the regular-season champs, Houston, to reach the championship.
“They’ve been through just a lot of the inevitable ups and downs… and you kind of gain this trust within each other of ‘how are we going to respond in these moments?’” Thompson said.
“For them, I think it was a lot about health… being able to train at a high level, enough to sustain the excellence.”
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Austin Rises Again
Austin followed a familiar path. After finishing 5-11 in the inaugural regular season and still winning the title, the team once again made a late push. A 10-10 finish secured a playoff spot, and Austin knocked off Atlanta to return to the finals.
“It’s almost like the more their backs are against the wall, the more fun they have… they like to show up,” Thompson said.
“They can beat anyone at any given night… It’s fun to see two teams peaking at the end of the season.”
Carli Lloyd Guides Austin’s Offense
Carli Lloyd (Thompson’s former National Team teammate) stepped into the starting setter role late and helped Austin run one of the most efficient offenses of the semifinal round. The team hit .359 across two matches and the golden set, with Lloyd totaling 91 assists.
“When Carli is aligned and really clear on her purpose, she’s as powerful as anyone. She’s playing some of the best volleyball I’ve seen her play in years,” Thompson said. “She’s such a competitor… It’s fun to see her impact on the court.”
Manami Kojima Anchors Salt Lake’s Defense
Manami Kojima has continued to anchor Salt Lake’s defense after earning Defensive Player of the Week honors in the semifinals. She totaled 38 digs against Houston and finished the regular season with a league-record 256.
“Manami is incredible… she just makes so many plays look easy and just gives her team a chance over and over,” Thompson said. “That’s wildly frustrating for an offense… anything can happen when you’ve got her back there.”
The matchup extends beyond the back row. Thompson also pointed to key battles at the net, including Alexa Gray on the block against Madisen Skinner, along with the potential impact of Asjia O’Neal and Molly McCage in the middle for Austin.
Salt Lake’s frontcourt, led by middles Serena Gray and Tori Dixon, could play a major role in how the defense holds up against Austin’s attack.
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Golden Set Adds Pressure to Playoff Race
The golden set format played a role in both semifinal matchups and has added another level of intensity to the postseason.
“In a set to 15, anything can happen… the more dialed up the pressure is, the more fun it is. I would love nothing more than another golden set,” Thompson said. “I hope it’s 1-1 and we get that moment again…[But] I’m going to stay neutral and just call the game.”
A New Role on the Broadcast
Now working as an analyst for USA Network, Thompson has taken on a different perspective covering the sport.
“I’m so grateful to be a part of it… USA Network has been phenomenal and such a big driver of what our sport can be,” Thompson said. “To get to just watch the match and be fully present… and celebrate these athletes doing world-class things – I can’t think of a cooler role.”
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How to Watch the LOVB Championship
The LOVB Championship will air on USA Network:
- April 16 – 8 p.m. ET
- April 18 – 8 p.m. ET (immediately followed by a golden set to 15 points if necessary)
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
