Less than a week after Kentucky’s season ended on the sport’s biggest stage, Eva Hudson already has her next jersey lined up.
The Wildcats’ senior outside hitter has signed her first professional contract with LOVB Atlanta, jumping into one of the fastest-growing pro volleyball options in the United States. Hudson is now listed on LOVB Atlanta’s official team page.
For Kentucky fans, it’s the kind of news that lands two ways at once: the sting from the national title loss is still fresh, but Hudson wasting no time is also the clearest reminder of what her season really was, a launching pad.
Kentucky volleyball star Eva Hudson starts her pro career immediately
Hudson didn’t just have a good final year in Lexington. She carried the weight that comes with being “the one” on a team trying to play deep into December, and she played her best when everything got tighter.
Now she’s stepping into a league built for players exactly like that.
LOVB is a six-team league with a season that runs from January through April, and it’s built around a centralized, TV-friendly schedule. The more important part for fans is simple: this isn’t some obscure setup where you’ll be hunting for streams. LOVB is putting matches on national networks and mainstream platforms.
When does LOVB Atlanta play and how can you watch
LOVB’s schedule shows Atlanta opening on the road against LOVB Austin on Sunday, Jan. 11 (Eastern time). (If you’re looking at the league’s listing in UTC, it rolls to Jan. 12 — but it’s a Jan. 11 night match in the U.S.)
LOVB’s broadcast partners for the season include ESPN2, USA Network, and streaming options through ESPN+ and Victory+.
Hudson’s arrival also comes at a moment where LOVB is actively building visibility and momentum — not just playing matches, but trying to own a lane in the American sports calendar. And for a player coming off a season where she was in the national spotlight every weekend, that matters.
What this means for Kentucky fans
Hudson’s Kentucky chapter ended with a tough final night, but the larger story of her season didn’t change: she elevated, she produced, and she became a headliner.
Now she gets a clean pivot into the next level, with real structure, real broadcasts, and a fast runway to the first serve of 2026.
If you loved watching her compete in big moments, you’re not done watching her compete in big moments.