Photo © Aija Lehtonen | Dreamstime.com
We’ve seen all kinds of traveling pro leagues in sports like beach volleyball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, track & field – heck, even swimming. Some compete nationally, some internationally but their common denominator is the athletes who bring their all to the game.
This league, however, is a brand-new concept, even by the standards of the fast-evolving sports industry.
According to SGB Media, Varsity Spirit, the U.S.-based cheerleading company owned by Varsity Brands, has announced it will debut the four-team Pro Cheer League in January 2026, with five events in Indianapolis, Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and Nashville. And just as it sounds, it will be a traveling competitive league solely dedicated to cheer.
“Cheerleading’s popularity has exploded over the last decade and has become part of the Olympic movement in recent years,” said Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit. “The Pro Cheer League represents a bold step forward, not just for the athletes, but for the future of our sport.”
The website for the Pro Cheer League states that for the inaugural season, there will be co-ed teams in four cities: Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Each team consists of 30 top-tier athletes – and Varsity is beating the drum on that point already.
Team selection will take place in September; athletes will complete standardized skill components via video submission, along with unique interview elements specific to each team. Rosters will be finalized and announced in October.
Pro Cheer League team members will receive elite training and part-time compensation, including wages, travel and lodging, uniforms, bonuses, and prize incentives. Additionally, teams, according to the website, “will be considered part-time employees of Varsity Spirit and will be compensated for their time, talent and dedication.”
However, the website notes, “although the Pro Cheer League may not currently fulfill the needs of a full-time career for most athletes at the start, it is a major step forward in building a professional pathway in cheer. [Varsity’s] long-term vision is to continue growing this opportunity into a more sustainable professional model over time.”
Once teams have been chosen (managers for teams are already listed on the website), training and rehearsals will begin to get groups up to speed and competition ready.
Matches will be held as follows:
- Indianapolis: Weekend of January 16
- Atlanta: Weekend of February 13
- Houston: Weekend of February 27
- Anaheim: Weekend of March 13
- Nashville: Weekend of March 27
The competition format takes place over three rounds, with rounds one and two featuring cheerleading skills, including stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in head-to-head, bracket-style rounds. The final round will feature a creative routine set to music, showcasing choreography, creativity, athleticism and showmanship.
If that sounds a little familiar, that might be because it is; two cheer-based women’s sports, Acrobatics & Tumbling and STUNT (which were recently recommend as the newest NCAA national championships) use a similar competition format.
The purpose of the league, say organizers, is to provide a platform for athletes to continue their careers beyond high school and college, competing at the highest level with advanced training, national exposure and competitive compensation.
Additionally, the League formation “aims to foster hometown pride and fan connection, as cheer continues to gain global traction,” said Varsity Spirit in a media release.
NIL issues are also on the board, with the site noting, “Athletes may pursue individual sponsorships as long as they are approved by the Pro Cheer League and align with the league’s guidelines. The league and its teams may also pursue brand partnerships in the future.”
The league welcomes the interest of athletes who are still in school and/or still enrolled in a club/all-star program; however, it notes that because of the commitment, all prospective athletes are encouraged to “carefully consider the demands of balancing multiple commitments.”
And ultimately, says Seely, it’s a way of increasing the visibility of cheer.
“We’re creating a Pro League to provide the ultimate opportunity for the most elite athletes from around the world. This will elevate cheer to its rightful place in sports by giving these remarkable athletes the visibility, opportunities and recognition they’ve earned.”
“For decades, cheerleaders have spent their careers inspiring crowds, building community and defining school spirit, but always with the knowledge that this journey will end at graduation for most,” said Adam Blumenfeld, CEO of Varsity Brands. “The launch of the Pro Cheer League creates new opportunities in a spotlight the sport has been waiting for. So many of our employees and customers have been enriched by being part of this incredible sport, and we’re proud to stand behind a movement that honors their passion and builds a new future for all.”
Varsity plans to expand the league in the coming years, something that may include adding more teams and possibly even multiple teams in the same city if demand is high enough.
Something else to consider: If hosting areas tie in the Pro Cheer League's competitions with other events, including clinics, showcases and tournaments, it could allow cities to boost their cheer hosting cred even further. Additionally, it would serve to show off the facilities where events are hosted. And that will have cities cheering as well.
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