Two-day showcase, headlined by renewal of storied rivalry between
five-time NCAA national champion Nebraska and five-time national champion Texas,
set for August 29-30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Pre-sale and general public ticket on-sale dates to be announced soon
NEW YORK/LAS VEGAS (May 8, 2026) – Players Era, an EverWonder Studio company, and MGM Resorts International today announced the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase, an elite NCAA women’s volleyball event set for August 29-30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The two-day event will highlight a premier early-season matchup between five-time national champion Nebraska and five-time national champion Texas, joined by TCU and UNLV.
Featuring a pair of must-see doubleheaders, the first day of competition will see perennial national championship contender Nebraska face UNLV, while national championship hopeful Texas will play TCU. Day two will be headlined by one of the best early season matchups on the schedule when Nebraska takes on Texas, a clash of two rivals coming off trips to the 2025 NCAA Tournament regional finals, while TCU will face UNLV. For Nebraska and Texas, it will be their first meeting in nearly three years, since the 2023 NCAA Championship match.
“NCAA women’s volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with record ratings and surging attendance, and we’re thrilled to have some of the biggest programs in the sport headlining our first-ever volleyball event as we expand beyond college hoops to create more amazing events for players, coaches and fans,” said Players Era CEO Seth Berger. “We’re grateful to have such an amazing partner in MGM Resorts who will make this a first-class event from start to finish, and appreciate Nebraska, Texas, TCU and UNLV for their support in launching this can’t miss showcase in Las Vegas.”
Dan Bernbach, Senior Vice President of Content Development for MGM Resorts, said, “We’re incredibly excited to host the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase and shine a spotlight on some of the very best talent in collegiate volleyball. Events like this highlight the energy, competition and star power that make Las Vegas a global sports destination, while creating new reasons for fans to visit and experience it all in a way only this city can deliver.”
Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said, “Playing in the first volleyball Players Era event is an exciting opportunity for our program. Nebraska wants to be at the forefront of new events and opportunities for our players and our sport. Having the opportunity to face our long-standing rival, Texas, is the icing on the cake. Not only will Vegas be an amazing location to start our season, playing UNLV and Texas will set a tone from the beginning. We want to thank MGM Resorts and Players Era for believing in volleyball and Nebraska to make this event possible.”
Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said, “Burnt Orange and Husker red in Vegas – the volleyball world will be watching. We are beyond excited to rekindle the biggest rivalry in college volleyball as Texas and Nebraska meet on one of the biggest stages imaginable in Las Vegas. The passion, tradition, energy, and fan support behind both programs make this something truly special for the entire volleyball world. This is going to be an unforgettable atmosphere, and I encourage fans to get their tickets now because this event will sell out fast. Vegas. Texas. Nebraska. Prime time. The biggest rivalry in college volleyball.”
TCU head coach Jason Williams said, “We are so excited to participate in the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase this fall in Vegas. This is a premier event with elite teams, hosts and venue. It is going to be competitive, fun and it will highlight some of the best players in the country.”
UNLV head coach Malia Shoji said, “It’s an honor for our program to be invited to compete in the inaugural Players Era Elite Volleyball Championship. To say our team, staff and program are excited would be an understatement. Coming off one of the strongest spring seasons we’ve had, this group is eager for the opportunity to test itself against some of the best programs in the country. Volleyball’s incredible rise in popularity aligns perfectly with Las Vegas’ emergence as a global sports destination. Bringing those two together is going to create a special atmosphere and an event fans won’t want to miss.”
With the Players Era Volleyball Showcase, Players Era is creating another premier early season event that delivers the excitement of post-season play and establishes trends and storylines that will define the season. The event also will feature a total of $1 million in NIL opportunities for participating teams. Last year’s Nebraska squad finished the regular season undefeated before advancing to the NCAA Regional final where it fell in five sets, in what was the most-watched Regional Final in history, peaking at 1.6 million viewers.
Texas went 23-3 a year ago, was the SEC Tournament runner-up and advanced to the Regional Final for the 18th time over the last 20 seasons. TCU went 21-11 last year and advanced to the NCAA Second Round.
About T-Mobile Arena
T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Designed and built to prioritize environmental sustainability, T-Mobile Arena was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2016. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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Media Contacts:
Vincent Novicki
EverWonder // Players Era
vincent@HELLER.inc
Scott Ghertner
MGM Resorts International
sghertner@mgmresorts.com
