Prior to the 2026 MLV All-Star Match, the six Orlando Valkyries selected to the event spoke to FL Teams about their excitement for the match, which will be hosted at Addition Financial Arena. Orlando’s six representatives are the most of any team in the MLV, with three players on Team Launiere and three on Team Meske.
“It’s amazing [to have six Valkyries in the All-Star Match] and I love it for those girls,” Valkyries outside hitter Charitie Luper said on Friday. “They work so hard, day in and day out at practice; they deserve that. If anyone deserves it, it’s them. Just seeing the excitement on their faces, it means a lot to them. It obviously means a lot to everyone else, and we’re just super happy.”
Luper said the Valkyries have had an up-and-down season, as four of their six Opening Day starters have missed time due to injury, but the All-Star Match honors are a morale boost to the team.
“All the girls that we have, we’re so talented,” Luper said. “There’s six of us here; that says a lot. We’re we’re putting the missing puzzle pieces together. We figuring it out in each game; we’re gonna take it game-by-game.
Three of Orlando’s six representatives are first-time all stars, including veteran libero Teodora Pušić, rookie blocker Bre Kelley, and MLV’s all-time leader in service aces Natalie Foster.
“I’m so happy about [being an all star], because as I tell to everyone, in Europe, we don’t have something like this,” Pušić said. “It’s my first season here and I was already nominated to be the part of the All-Star Game, and I’m so excited about it.”
Both Foster and Kelley were late additions to the rosters, serving as injury replacements. Kelley was announced as an All-Star less than 24 hours before the match.
“I feel honored to be here,” Foster said. “I wasn’t initially pulled in, but unfortunately, there were some injuries, and I’m just glad I get to step into the gym and be here with some of these amazing female athletes. I think it’s so cool. I know each and every one of them have worked their butt off to get here.”
While other professional leagues like the NFL and NBA do not take their All-Star games seriously, the MLV’s top talent said they are preparing for the match as they would for any other contest.
“We’re definitely going to make it fun,” Luper said. “We’re gonna bring lots of energy, take it seriously. Some girls had games [on Thursday]; some were five-setters. They’re gonna be tired, as they should be. For those of us who didn’t play last night, we’re gonna give it our all, make it fun, and super entertaining for people.”