Back in chilly December 2024, Madisen Skinner and the Texas Longhorns were stuck in the kind of heartbreak that stings for a while. Their reign as defending champs came crashing down when Creighton pulled off the upset in the NCAA regional semifinals—four hard-fought sets and just like that, the dream run was over. For Madi, it was more than a season-ender; it was the final curtain call on her collegiate chapter. She called the ride “special,” and oh, it really was—but the loss hit deep.

That Sweet 16 exit was rare air for Texas, a place they hadn’t landed in years, and for Skinner, it was one last emotional swing in burnt orange. But fast-forward a few months and boom—a new chapter, new vibe. Madisen didn’t just bounce back, she straight-up gloved up. Stepping into the pro league like a seasoned vet, she brought the fire, the flair, and all that Madi magic. And just like that, Madisen Skinner turned her 2024 NCAA heartbreak into a pro-season glow-up with a debut run that slayed.

LOVB hopped on the ‘Gram right after that spicy showdown between LOVB Austin and Omaha, and oh, they did not hold back. They dropped the mic with, “A championship performance from start to finish. @madisenskinner left no doubt. Your #LOVBFinals MVP presented by Adidas 🏆” — and honestly, facts were spoken! Yup, Madisen Skinner came in hot, left the whole court shaken, and walked out with that MVP crown like it was made for her.

Madisen Skinner’s championship glow-up just keeps getting better and better, and yup — her “never-lost-a-final” streak? Still flawless. The former Texas Longhorn came in hot this season and walked out even hotter, as she and the LOVB Austin squad absolutely steamrolled Omaha in a clean three-set sweep to snatch the first-ever League One Volleyball crown. After pulling off two insane reverse sweeps earlier in the week, Austin decided to go on full beast mode and end things in style. And Skinner? Yeah, she was that girl. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” she said after the confetti dropped.

“We came out here, closed it out and gave it everything we had. At the end of the day, I’m so proud of this group and I’m proud to be in Austin and in this league.” Homegirl was on fire — 21 points, including 17 kills, 4 blocks, and a handful of digs just to flex on ‘em. With a jaw-dropping 63 kills over the finals, Skinner snagged that LOVB Finals MVP crown like it was made for her, and honestly? It kinda was. Add in her .277 attack percentage, six blocks, four aces, and 22 digs across three matches — yeah, she ate and left zero crumbs. And well, Madisen Skinner is not one to linger the pain from the NCAA game. Instead, she is grateful for everything.

Madisen Skinner reflects on the emotional year including the NCAA loss

Back in January, Madisen Skinner took a moment to soak it all in — the wins, the lessons, and yeah… that one really tough loss. 2024 was supposed to be the fairytale ending, her final NCAA crown to complete the three-peat dream. But when that dream slipped away, Madi didn’t let the heartbreak dim her glow. Nope, not even close. Instead, the volleyball queen looked back at the wild ride of the year and decided to count all the magic instead. “I can confidently say that 2024 has been the best year of my life,” she wrote, sprinkling in some of the unforgettable memories that made her final college chapter way more than just wins and losses.

She got all sentimental (and rightly so) listing the moments that left their mark: “From meeting so many of you to playing in my first VNL (Volleyball Nations League) with my sister, traveling around the world to speak alongside the most incredible women, launching the Madi Skinner app, collaborating with my dream brands, and wrapping up my collegiate career—the memories from this past year have truly been unforgettable.” And honestly? She wasn’t kidding. The second half of the year was a full-on main character energy montage — from global adventures to standing beside powerhouses to cheering alongside her sister on the international court.

Oh, and let’s not forget the Nike drop that had fans doing backflips. “You know the name. Please welcome @madisenskinner to the Nike Volleyball family,” the swoosh squad shared on August 31 — a major moment for the Texas star. And just when the vibes couldn’t get any better, boom — she launched her own app and website, giving fans a front-row seat to everything Madi. “I’m beyond excited to announce that MadisenSkinner.com and the Madisen Skinner app are officially LIVE,” she gushed online. Safe to say, 2024 didn’t end with a crown — but it sure ended with a glow-up. And now? She’s got her eyes on more magic in the year ahead.