The fact that we can talk about professional sports in Southern Nevada is not lost on anyone who has lived here for more than a decade. It was less than that when the first rumblings of professional sports were heard. Whether you thought that a new team would flop or triumph, there is no denying that Las Vegas has doubled down on being home to professional sports teams.
The area’s newest addition is Vegas Thrill, Las Vegas’ home team in the newly established Pro Volleyball Federation. This world-class volleyball team’s official home court is The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson and is being welcomed in the only way our community knows how: with open arms.
How the community receives sports teams wasn’t lost on Vegas Thrill’s head coach, Fran Flory, either. It was enough to dissolve her skepticism, she did not think of herself as a glitzy or glamorous Vegas person, and came out of retirement for the position.
“There is an incredible amount of pride in the people from here and who live here. You don’t see that everywhere,” said Coach Flory. “They are very prideful of not just living here, but also the events that happen here, and the teams that compete here. It’s amazing.”
Flory had retired from coaching collegiate volleyball to care for her mother, who passed away in November. “My mom had a saying, ‘c’est la vie.’ Anything that was a challenge, she would throw her hands up and say, ‘c’est la vie. Pick up the pieces and keep going.” That is what she did, and within two months, Flory was in Las Vegas taking on the challenge of building the Vegas Thrill. “Things happen for a reason,” said Flory, “You get put in the situation the good Lord wants you in.”
The timing is more than opportune for the team, as the popularity of women’s sports is growing. “It’s about damn time,” said Flory of the recent surge in women’s sports viewership. “I’ve been doing this a long time, women are beginning to get the coverage and credit for being athletic, not just looking pretty.”
She has a theory on just when and how the tables turned in women’s sports. It started about 12 to 15 years ago when she noticed that the demographics at recruiting events started to change. Before that, it was mostly all mothers and daughters. “You wouldn’t see any dads or brothers. Well, not many. It was all women, and then the trend changed,” says Flory, “I think that men, fathers specifically, started to become proud of their daughters’ athletic achievements and the doors that had opened.”
Fast forward to February and the Thrill’s first home opener, which was sold out and packed with locals, celebrities, and community leaders. “It was super emotional. When I walked into the building for the first time, I shed a few tears, saying here we are, we are doing it. I was amazed by the initial investment without ever seeing the product, they came in on blind faith that this was going to be something worth investing in; something worth being a part of. It was special for the fans, and it was certainly special for us,” she continued.
Both the team and Coach Flory understand the honor and responsibility of standing for both the sport of volleyball and the Las Vegas community. “I think that our women can be role models not just for the sport but for the community. I want our women to be the heroes of Vegas,” said Flory. Heroes that meld together to form a diverse team of women, ranging from their mid-30s with children to early 20-somethings who have yet to complete their college degrees. Bringing the team together has been a huge task for the coach, but a fun one she said. Together, they are able to show our youth another team of women to look up to and see what is truly attainable.
Coach Flory’s goal is to make her team as special as the community around it, and, in return, give the community a team to be proud of. From the looks and sounds of it, both goals will easily be crushed. “You can’t go anywhere without someone greeting you, they’ve been so welcoming,” Flory said in reference to the community, “It’s so positive and just a great vibe.” Sounds like her team digs that sentiment, as well.
"There is an incredible amount of pride in the people who live here. You don’t see that everywhere."
They came in on blind faith that this was going to be something worth investing in; something worth being a part of. It was special for the fans, and it was certainly special for us.
