Larson Cancels Retirement, Will Return to Playing with LOVB Nebraska in 2027

Almost every day this spring, Jordan Larson would wake up and be amazed at how good she felt. 

Nearing 40, Larson was surprised by how well she held up during the grind of a professional season. The only problem was that earlier this year, Larson said she was walking away from the sport she’s played professionally for 18 years. In January, she held an emotional press conference to announce that she was transitioning to a new phase of her life and would focus her time and efforts on the business operations of LOVB Nebraska, where she is a part-owner of the franchise. 

Three months after LOVB Nebraska’s final regular-season match, Larson announced that she is returning to the franchise for the 2027 season. The former Nebraska All-American and four-time Olympic medalist announced on Friday that she will continue playing in LOVB in a social media post that was capped by a clip from The Wolf of Wall Street, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character says, “I’m not leaving.”

During the ceremony honoring Larson in the regular season finale, the Hooper, Nebraska, native received a bejeweled volleyball and a framed jersey from League One president Rosie Spaulding and commissioner Sandra Idehen. The team also played a video tribute to Larson, tracing her volleyball journey with testimonies from teammates, opponents and coaches. Following the match, she said it was a lot to take in and not in her wheelhouse. She considers herself a quiet, reserved person, but was grateful for all the accolades and attention. 

Larson said she struggled to process all the thoughts and emotions after saying she was stepping away.

“It was bittersweet when it all ended, and then I’m thinking like, why? Why am I actually stopping? Is it for the public or what’s actually at the heart and what I really want to do?” Larson said Friday evening at a LOVB Nebraska block party at Gateway Mall. “Ultimately, that’s where I went with it all. It’s definitely backward. Definitely not what I had planned. So sorry for all the back and forth.”

Larson won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she was named MVP, and was part of Nebraska’s 2007 national championship team. She continues to rack up honors and was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in June. 

The 6-foot-2 outside hitter still played at a high level during the 2026 season for LOVB Nebraska. She amassed 267 points, the sixth-most in the league, and recorded 234 kills and 15 aces, both in the top five. She was named the league’s top outside hitter and selected to the LOVB Icons First Team. 

The first seedlings of doubt about her future sprouted during a conversation with Suzie Fritz. The LOVB Nebraska coach this past season told Larson that she didn’t have to retire because she was impressed with how well her captain was playing. 

From there, Larson’s wheels started spinning. She consulted with others in her life, including mental coach Sue Enquist, men’s national team coach Karch Kiraly, and family and friends. In a press release, Larson said she eventually realized that she wasn’t done with volleyball and the game wasn’t done with her. 

“It’s not easy to go back on a massive decision,” Larson said. “It’s not fun, and then to confuse the public, it’s not something that I would wish for anyone, honestly. But here we are, and I’m happy with the decision, and we’re moving forward.”

Kirsten Bernthal Booth, the president of business operations for LOVB Nebraska, said she knew this wasn’t an easy decision for Larson, but she is proud that she made it on her own terms. 

 “Of course, we’re thrilled to welcome Jordan back,” she said. “She proved last season she’s still competing at an elite level, and we’re fortunate to have one of the greatest players our sport has ever seen wearing a LOVB Nebraska jersey again. More than anything, I’m proud of the way she represents herself, our team and the game of volleyball. We are so fortunate to call her a Nebraskan.”

Larson is the first known player for the 2027 LOVB Nebraska roster. The rest of the players will be revealed on Monday morning. The team will be coached by Giannis Athanasopoulos, who was hired earlier this summer.

The lineup will feature many new faces, and Larson said she is excited to work with it in a newly expanded League One, which will feature 10 teams in 2027. 

Larson didn’t say whether this will be her last year playing. In fact, after going through big celebrations this past year, Larson doesn’t want to go through that again. 

“You won’t know when I actually decide to step away,” she said. “I won’t tell you that. It’s going to be right off into the sunset, and that’s it. So no announcement, no nothing. Just that’s it.”