Last updated: September 10, 2026
2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League was the fourth edition of the women's international volleyball tournament organised by the FIVB. The competition featured 16 national teams and introduced a new competition format for the 2022 season.
Edition: 4th
Teams: 16
Preliminary Phase: May 31 to July 3, 2022
Finals: July 13 to July 17, 2022
Finals venue: Ankara, Türkiye
Champion: Italy
Runner-up: Brazil
Bronze medal: Serbia
MVP: Paola Egonu
Tournament Overview
The 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League brought together 16 of the world's leading women's national volleyball teams.
The tournament was played from May 31 to July 3, 2022, during the Preliminary Phase, followed by the Finals in Ankara, Türkiye, from July 13 to July 17.
The 2022 edition was notable because the competition format was changed. Instead of the previous league structure, the 16 participating teams competed in a series of pools during the Preliminary Phase before the top eight teams advanced to the Finals.
2022 Competition Format
The 2022 season introduced a new format designed to reduce the number of matches played by each team during the Preliminary Phase.
The 16 teams were divided into pools of eight teams. Each team played 12 matches during the Preliminary Phase.
After the Preliminary Phase, the eight highest-ranked teams qualified for the Finals. The host nation, Türkiye, also had to earn its place through the Preliminary Phase ranking.
The Finals used a direct knockout format. The eight qualified teams competed in quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the medal matches.
Preliminary Phase
The Preliminary Phase ran from May 31 to July 3, 2022.
Each of the 16 participating teams played 12 matches. Teams earned points according to the results of their matches, with the overall ranking determining the eight teams that progressed to the Finals.
At the end of the Preliminary Phase, the eight teams that qualified for the Finals were:
- United States
- Brazil
- Italy
- China
- Japan
- Serbia
- Türkiye
- Thailand
Finals
The 2022 VNL Finals were held in Ankara, Türkiye, from July 13 to July 17.
The eight qualified teams entered a single-elimination knockout stage. The quarter-finals were followed by two semi-finals, a bronze medal match and the gold medal match.
The Finals produced several closely contested matches before Italy and Brazil reached the championship match.
Quarter-finals
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| United States vs Serbia | Serbia won 3–2 |
| Brazil vs Japan | Brazil won 3–1 |
| Italy vs China | Italy won 3–1 |
| Türkiye vs Thailand | Türkiye won 3–1 |
Serbia eliminated the United States in five sets, while Brazil defeated Japan. Italy overcame China, and the host nation Türkiye completed the quarter-final line-up with a victory over Thailand.
Semi-finals
| Semi-final | Result |
|---|---|
| Brazil vs Serbia | Brazil won 3–1 |
| Italy vs Türkiye | Italy won 3–0 |
Brazil advanced to the gold medal match after defeating Serbia 3–1. Italy then produced a strong performance against Türkiye, winning 3–0 to reach the final.
Medal Matches
Bronze Medal Match
Serbia 0–3 Türkiye
Set scores: 25–27, 17–25, 24–26
Türkiye claimed the bronze medal after defeating Serbia in straight sets.
Gold Medal Match
Italy 3–0 Brazil
Set scores: 25–23, 25–22, 25–22
Italy completed an outstanding tournament by defeating Brazil in three sets in the championship match.
Italy Wins the 2022 VNL Women's Title
Italy won the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League for the first time after beating Brazil 3–0 in the final.
The victory was another major achievement for Italian women's volleyball. Italy controlled the decisive moments of the final and won all three sets by narrow but important margins.
Brazil finished the tournament as runners-up, while Türkiye and Serbia completed the medal positions according to the final classification.
The Italian victory also marked a significant moment in the history of the Women's Nations League, giving Italy its first VNL women's championship.
MVP and Dream Team
Italy's Paola Egonu was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2022 VNL Finals.
Egonu was one of the key players in Italy's title-winning campaign and finished the Finals with 83 points.
2022 VNL Women's Dream Team
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Setter | Alessia Orro |
| Opposite | Paola Egonu |
| Outside Hitter | Caterina Bosetti |
| Outside Hitter | Gabriela Guimarães |
| Middle Blocker | Jovana Stevanović |
| Middle Blocker | Ana Carolina da Silva |
| Libero | Monica De Gennaro |
2022 VNL Women's Final Standings
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Italy |
| 2 | Brazil |
| 3 | Serbia |
| 4 | Türkiye |
| 5 | United States |
| 6 | China |
| 7 | Japan |
| 8 | Thailand |
| 9 | Canada |
| 10 | Dominican Republic |
| 11 | Poland |
| 12 | Germany |
| 13 | Belgium |
| 14 | South Korea |
| 15 | Bulgaria |
| 16 | Netherlands |
Why the 2022 VNL Was Important
The 2022 Women's Nations League was an important edition because it introduced a new competition format and produced a new champion.
Italy's success was particularly significant. The team reached the Finals after a strong Preliminary Phase and then defeated China, Türkiye and Brazil in the knockout stage.
The tournament also highlighted the strength of international women's volleyball, with teams from Europe, Asia, North America, South America and the Caribbean competing across the competition.
- Champion: Italy
- Runner-up: Brazil
- Bronze: Türkiye
- Final score: Italy 3–0 Brazil
- Final venue: Ankara, Türkiye
- MVP: Paola Egonu
- Number of teams: 16
- Finals teams: 8
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League?
Italy won the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League, defeating Brazil 3–0 in the final.
Who was the MVP of the 2022 Women's VNL?
Italy's Paola Egonu was named the MVP of the 2022 VNL Finals.
Where were the 2022 VNL Finals played?
The 2022 Women's VNL Finals were played in Ankara, Türkiye.
Which teams reached the 2022 VNL Finals?
The eight teams that reached the Finals were the United States, Brazil, Italy, China, Japan, Serbia, Türkiye, and Thailand.
What was the score in the 2022 VNL women's final?
Italy defeated Brazil 3–0, with set scores of 25–23, 25–22 and 25–22.
How many teams competed in the 2022 Women's VNL?
A total of 16 national teams competed in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League.
Final Thoughts
The 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League provided an exciting international competition and introduced a new format for the women's tournament.
Italy ultimately produced the strongest performance in the Finals, defeating Brazil in straight sets to become the 2022 VNL women's champion. Paola Egonu's outstanding performance also earned her the MVP award.
The tournament remains an important chapter in the history of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League and Italian women's volleyball.