Preview: U.S. Women’s National Team head to Rio
Find out everything you need to know about Madi’s upcoming games in Brazil
Published
03 JUN 2025
Est. reading time
2 min
Who are the United States’ opponents?
The U.S. Women’s National Team will face four teams over the course of their 2025 Volleyball Nations League preliminary round visit to Rio de Janeiro.
First up is a clash with Italy, before they take on hosts Brazil. Czechia are the United States’ next opponents, ahead of a final game against South Korea.
Where are the games being played?
The Maracanãzinho — or ‘Little Maracanã’ is set to host all of the United States’ Week 1 matches.
Located in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro, the 11,800 capacity venue was opened in 1954 and has hosted everything from music concerts to basketball games, UFC fights and Judo competitions.
Volleyball has previously been played at the Maracanãzinho, too, including the 1960 and 1990 Men's Volleyball World Championship.
What time do the matches get underway?
The U.S. Women’s National Team’s games start at a variety of times, across four matchdays from 4th-8th June (all times PDT).
Viewers on the West Coast will be able to tune in for the United States’ opener against Italy at 10am on Wednesday 4th June, ahead of their encounter with Brazil at 5pm the following day.
It’s another 5pm start on Friday 6th June for the team’s penultimate match against Czechia, before playing South Korea at 1pm on Monday 8th June.
Opposition guide
Madi will face some tough tests in Rio, against some of the world’s best women’s volleyball sides.
Italy won the previous edition of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in 2024, for example, and were also champions back in 2022.
Brazil are yet to lift the trophy, but did finish as runners-up in 2019, 2021 and 2022, so shouldn’t be underestimated — especially with home ground advantage.
Czechia are something of an unknown, having never previously made a VNL appearance, while South Korea will harbor hopes of improving on their 12th-place finish back in 2018.
Anything else to know?
The United States have impressive pedigree in the Volleyball Nations League, having already won it three times — 2018, 2019 and 2021.
They will be bidding to do so once again this year, under the tutelage of head coach Erik Sullivan.
He’s been in charge of the team since January 2025, and was also announced as LOVB Austin’s new boss just a few weeks ago.
A two-time NCAA Champion as a player, the 52-year-old can lay down a marker by guiding his team through a successful preliminary round in Rio over the coming days.
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