Volleyball On SI

MLV Minnesota Reveals Team Name and Inspiration Behind It

The Minnesota Forge will debut in January 2027.

Nicole Reitz

The Minnesota Forge will debut in January 2027.
The Minnesota Forge will debut in January 2027. / Major League Volleyball

Major League Volleyball (MLV) Minnesota has adopted an identity. 

Announced as a new franchise in November 2025, the team officially has a name, the Minnesota Forge. The league revealed that, alongside branding and colors on Wednesday at a launch event at Rice Park in St. Paul. 

The name Forge, along with the vibrant green colors, was created to represent the strength, ambition, and collective spirit of a state ready to help shape the future of women’s professional volleyball. 

It also represents the collective effort required to build a professional sports franchise, from the athletes and coaches on the court to the fans, families, and volleyball communities who will define the team’s future. 

“Forge connects our Minnesota roots with the future we are building,” president of Minnesota Forge Michelle Haines said in a press release. “The name reflects resilience, craftsmanship, and the strength that comes from community. We wanted an identity that feels authentic to this state while expressing the confidence and ambition of a professional team creating new opportunities for elite athletes, inspiring the next generation and advancing women’s sports.” 

The team will begin play in January 2027 and host home matches at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The franchise joins four other MLV expansion teams, brining the league to 12 teams. 

Minnesota Forge Roster and Coaching Staff

Led by general manager and head coach Pedro Mendes and assistant coach CC McGraw, the roster currently has 13 players. 

Mendes served two stints as an assistant coach at the Univeristy of Minnesota, first as a volunteer in 2022, and again as a true assistant from 2024 to 2026. There, he helped the Gophers to two Sweet 16 appearances. 

McGraw was most recently an assistant coach at the University of Louisville from 2023 to 2026. She helped the Cardinals  reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in both 2023 and 2024. In her first season in 2023, the Cardinals earned their highest national ranking at No. 2 and finished the year ranked No. 6.

Minnesota alums Stephanie Sameday and Courtney Schwan are also back to represent the state. 

  • Payton Caffrey, Outside Hitter, West Virginia University, Florida State 
  • Stephanie Sameday, Opposite Hitter, Minnesota 
  • Maddy May, Libero, North Carolina 
  • Jenna Wenaas, Outside Hitter, Minnesota, Texas
  • Quinn Pelland, Setter, Mount Royal University 
  • Marie Schölzel, Middle Blocker 
  • Courtney Schwan, Outside Hitter, Minnesota 
  • Patricia Llabrés, Libero 
  • Alicia Andrew, Middle Blocker, Wisconsin-Madison, Baylor 
  • Kayla Haneline, Middle Blocker, Northern Iowa
  • Hattie Bray, Middle Blocker, Marquette
  • Emery Herman, Setter, Colorado State, Arizona

“Minnesota has one of the country’s strongest and most passionate volleyball communities, and that foundation makes it an exciting market for the continued growth of women’s professional sports,” Jaime Weston, commissioner of Major League Volleyball said in a press release. “Minnesota Forge brings the highest level of professional volleyball to a state with a deep connection to the sport. As MLV expands to 12 teams in 2027, this franchise will be an important part of shaping the next era of professional volleyball."

Season ticket deposits are currently available on the team’s website, with a schedule to be announced at a later date. 

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Nicole Reitz
NICOLE REITZ

Nicole Reitz graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in sports journalism in 2022 and has been writing about softball and baseball since 2018. Her work has been published in various publications like Softball On SI, Softball America, the Indianapolis Star, and SoxOn35th.

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