Stellar glow in women’s VNL rosters unveiled

Another edition of the women’s Volleyball Nations League is fast approaching and will once again offer fans the opportunity to get the year’s first glimpse of many international volleyball stars of the highest caliber performing in their national season jerseys at the start of the summer season.

With the unveiling of the 30-player team lists, now published on the VNL competition website, the anticipation of VNL 2026 is sharply rising, stirring volleyball fever among the sport’s lovers around the world ahead of the first major event on the year’s volleyball national team calendar.

VNL 2026: Women’s team rosters (subject to eligibility verification to be conducted by the FIVB)

FIVB World Ranking leaders Italy, the VNL champions of the previous two seasons and reigning world champions, have added 12 of the 14 players that claimed the world title in September to their VNL 2026 roster. In the notable absence of libero Monica De Gennaro, last year’s Most Valuable Player of the Volleyball Nations League, who retired from the national team after the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, coach Julio Velasco’s list features the likes of two-time VNL MVP Paola Egonu, World Championship MVP Alessia Orro, Dream Teamers Anna Danesi and Myriam Sylla and a long line of top-notch players that make Italy the favorites for yet another crown in their impressive showcase.

The world’s number two team Brazil, four-time VNL silver medalists, will make another run for a first VNL title, led by super star Gabriela Guimaraes (Gabi), a Dream Team outside hitter at both the 2025 World Championship and VNL 2025, and supported by some of the world’s best players in their positions.

In the absence of retired middle blocker Agnieszka Korneluk, libero Akeksandra Szczyglowska is taking over the role of Poland’s captain, while the bronze medalists of the previous three seasons will continue to rely heavily on star opposite Magdalena Stysiak’s scoring prowess.

Outside hitter and captain Mayu Ishikawa once again highlights the well-rounded roster of Japan, the team that took fourth place at both major competitions in 2025.

The almighty scoring machine Melissa Vargas headlines an impressive Turkish roster, as the world’s number three team and World Championship runners-up try to return to the VNL podium after a two-year absence.

Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists Jordan Thompson and Micha Hancock are back on the US roster after skipping the 2025 national team season. The magical evergreen playmaker Maja Ognjenovic also returns to the Serbian lineup after missing the previous season, ready to set for the fabulous Tijana Boskovic.

There will be plenty of world-class talent on the other teams as well – Belgium’s Britt Herbots, Bulgaria’s Zhana Todorova, Canada’s Alexa Gray, China’s Li Yingying, Czechia’s Helena Grozer, Dominican Republic’s Brenda Castillo, France’s Helena Cazaute, Germany’s Camilla Weitzel, Netherlands’ Nika Daalderop, Thailand’s Pimpichaya Kokram or Ukraine’s Diana Meliushkyna, to name a few examples.

The current lists of 30 players per team are final. For the participation in each competition week of the VNL, a team lineup of 12-14 players and up to four reserve players is selected among the 30.

VNL 2026 schedule
VNL 2026 ticket information

• Watch the Volleyball Nations League 2026 on VBTV

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