The Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team has departed for the Norceca Championship in Santo Domingo, where they will compete for spots in the 2028 Olympic Games, the 2027 World Championship, and the 2027 Pan American Games. The team, which won bronze at the 2026 Santo Domingo Games, will debut against Cuba on Friday.
The top four teams at the Norceca Championship will advance to the Pre-Olympic tournament, and since the US has already qualified for the Olympics as the host country, Puerto Rico has a strong chance of securing a spot. The championship will also award three spots to the 2027 World Championship.
According to national team director Juan Carlos Núñez, the team's goal is to secure international competition experience in 2027, including the World Championship and the Pan American Games, and to ultimately qualify for the Olympics. The first three teams at the Norceca Championship will qualify for the 2027 World Championship, and with Canada and the US excluded from qualifying due to their roles as co-hosts, Puerto Rico's chances of advancing look promising.