Thomas-Ailara, Parsons, Cooper and Chaussee Join AU Pro Volleyball Championship Roster
Fans will see some familiar faces alongside exciting new additions when the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship begins this fall. Opposite hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara and outside hitter Claire Chaussee are set to return, while outside hitters Sarah Parsons and Reagan Cooper make their AU debuts.
Whether through the collegiate or professional stretches of their careers, or both, all four stars will be familiar with the competition’s two host sites — Omaha and Madison — giving local fans plenty to cheer for when play begins.
Temi Thomas-Ailara
Hailing from Glenwood, Illinois, Thomas-Ailara helped Wisconsin reach the NCAA semifinals in 2023 after spending the first four years of her career at Northwestern. The 6-foot-6 opposite hitter was a three-time All-Big Ten selection with the Wildcats and earned AVCA Second-Team All-America honors in 2022.
She made her Athletes Unlimited debut in 2024 and quickly became a reliable force, finishing ninth on the leaderboard with 2,924 points. Her season included 135 kills, 84 digs, 12 solo blocks, and five Match MVP nods, highlighted by an 18-kill, 12-dig performance against Team Drews on November 1.
Thomas-Ailara then joined the San Diego Mojo for the PVF’s inaugural season, ranking fifth in the league in total kills while helping the team secure a third-place regular season finish. She played for LOVB Madison in 2025, where she was a solid option for the team on the right side.
Sarah Wilhite Parsons
Parsons will give Omaha fans an early glimpse of a player they’ll soon be cheering for regularly. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native recently signed with the Omaha Supernovas for the upcoming Major League Volleyball season.
She starred collegiately at Minnesota, where she was named 2016 AVCA and ESPNW National Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, and a Final Four All-Tournament Team honoree. Parsons has since earned 10 medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team, highlighted by three Volleyball Nations League titles, and played professionally in Italy, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, and Japan.
Reagan Cooper
Cooper arrives in AU fresh off a breakout rookie campaign with the MLV’s Columbus Fury. She was named Rising Star (Rookie of the Year) and earned All-League Second Team honors after ranking fourth in the league in kills (339) and third in kills per set (4.13). She produced six matches of 20 or more kills, including 29 in a single outing — the second-most in league history.
A 2023 AVCA Third-Team All-American at Kansas, Cooper also played at Texas Tech and Washington State before being drafted 14th overall by the Fury. She later signed with the Omaha Supernovas for the 2025 season and will be in familiar territory for the Omaha stint of AU’s competition.
Claire Chaussee
Chaussee was one of AU’s strongest outside hitters in 2023. She appeared in all 15 matches and was named to the league’s All-Position Team after placing 10th overall on the leaderboard with 2,939 points.
At Louisville, she was the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American, leading the Cardinals to the national championship match. Since then, she has played in Italy and starred with the Grand Rapids Rise, leading the league in kills (395) and ranking second in points (429) while guiding the team to the championship match in 2024. She competed with LOVB Madison in 2025 while racking up 130 kills throughout the season.
The 2025 AU Pro Volleyball Championship will feature 44 of the world’s top volleyball players in an exclusive, high-stakes tournament to determine the ultimate champion of the sport. These elite athletes, handpicked from the best domestic and international pro leagues, will face off in the nation’s premier volleyball hubs in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena (October 1-15) and in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Alliant Energy Center (October 22 – November 3). Series ticket deposits for both locations are now available here.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
