The Pro Cheer League launches in 2026 with four teams, athlete pay, growth stats, and plans to eventually sell the teams to investors.

The inaugural Pro Cheer League (PCL) is set to launch in 2026 with four teams based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and San Diego. Each team will consist of 30 athletes, competing across five events in the United States.

Presented by Varsity Spirit, the PCL aims to provide a professional pathway for cheerleaders beyond college, with athletes earning a high hourly rate for a part-time schedule spanning five months of the year. Varsity Spirit plans to eventually sell the teams to private investors, while also offering athletes opportunities for sponsorships and media appearances.

The league comes amid growing global participation in cheerleading, with over 3.9 million athletes in the U.S. and 121 countries now members of the International Cheer Union, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Varsity Spirit sees the league as a way to build fan engagement and showcase cheerleading as a professional sport, with plans for both linear and streaming coverage.

The PCL’s inaugural cities were chosen for their existing cheer communities, strong fan bases, and local partnerships. While cheer will not debut in the 2028 Olympics, the league could help strengthen the sport’s case for future Olympic inclusion.

Read the full story on Ruling Sports.