Introducing the AVP League Cup and the AVP League Championships.
The AVP is entering a new era. With city-based franchises, two distinct championship paths, and a postseason designed to crown the sport’s best duos, 2025 marks a transformative year for professional beach volleyball.
As competition kicks off in Palm Beach on May 23rd & 24th, here’s what fans, players, and stakeholders need to know about the 2025 AVP League.
Meet the AVP League Franchises
Eight official city-based teams will battle for the League Cup and fuel some of the fiercest competition on tour:
- Palm Beach Passion: Humana-Paredes/Wilkerson & Tr. Crabb/Dalhausser
- Miami Mayhem: Cheng/Shaw & Schalk/Shaw
- New York Nitro: Ta. Crabb/Sander & Quiggle/J. Rice
- Brooklyn Blaze: Denaburg/Donlin & Cook/Miller
- Austin Aces: Brasher/Nuss & Drost/Harrison
- Dallas Dream: Deberg/Harward & Benesh/Partain
- LA Launch: Cannon/Kraft & Smith/Webber
- San Diego Smash: Rodriguez/Urango & Budinger/Evans
The AVP League Cup
Recognizing the Top City Team of the Regular Season
The AVP League Cup is the League’s official regular season team title, awarded to the city franchise with the strongest combined record across both its men’s and women’s duos. Each of the eight AVP League teams is comprised of one men’s duo and one women’s duo representing their city on the sand throughout the regular season.
Unlike postseason play, the League Cup is determined by the city teams’ cumulative win-loss records (men’s duo and women’s duo combined). There is no playoff for this award—the League Cup is earned through consistency, teamwork, and sustained excellence across the entire campaign.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the team with the best overall record—factoring in both gender divisions—will take home the AVP League Cup.
The AVP League Championships
Chicago. Top 6 Duos. One Shot at Glory.
The AVP League Championships are the league’s official postseason event. Unlike the team-focused League Cup, qualification is based solely on individual duo performance. The top six duos (per gender) based on their win-loss record —regardless of their city affiliation—earn their place in a single-elimination bracket held in Chicago.
This system ensures the highest-performing pairs are the ones competing for the League’s top individual honor.
2025 Season Opener: Palm Beach
The 2025 season officially begins in Palm Beach, where early momentum can set the tone for city franchises and championship-hungry duos. Several top-tier pairings will take the court with major storylines in play:
Palm Beach Passion
- Brandie Wilkerson / Melissa Humana-Paredes
- Trevor Crabb / Phil Dalhausser
Olympic silver medalists Wilkerson and Humana-Paredes headline a stacked Passion roster, while AVP legend Phil Dalhausser begins his final professional season, teaming up with the polarizing character of Trevor Crabb. With world-class talent on both sides, Palm Beach enters as an early League Cup contender.
San Diego Smash
- Toni Rodriguez / Geena Urango
- Chase Budinger / Miles Evans
The reigning AVP League Champions return with firepower and focus. Budinger and Evans, fresh off their 2024 Olympic campaign, anchor the men’s side, while Rodriguez and Urango provide proven depth on the women’s side. San Diego has one goal in 2025: repeat.
Dallas Dream
- Kylie Deberg / Hailey Harward
- Andy Benesh / Miles Partain
Benesh and Partain return as one of the sport’s most dominant duos—Olympians and 2024 AVP League finalists—alongside the rising Deberg/Harward pairing. Dallas has the personnel and the postseason pedigree to make a serious push for both titles.
Brooklyn Blaze
- Lexy Denaburg / Julia Donlin (formerly Scoles)
- Seain Cook / Brian Miller
Brooklyn enters the season with high upside and breakout potential. As one of the youngest teams in the League, the Blaze will look to make an early statement in Palm Beach against their veteran-heavy opponents.
How to Follow the 2025 AVP League Season
Want to stay locked in all season? Here’s how:
- ️Weekly Standings & Updates → AVP.com
- Live Matches & Highlights → CBS Sports, The CW, & YouTube.
- Team & Duo Coverage → Follow @AVP for behind-the-scenes content
- League Cup and Championship Leaderboard → AVP Instagram Broadcast Channel
Every Match Matters
Whether you’re following the League Cup race or tracking your favorite duo’s path to Chicago, one thing is clear: every match, every set, every point matters.
This is the most competitive format the AVP has ever produced—and it starts now.
This is the AVP League. Welcome to 2025.