Budinger and Wilkerson Dominate TMZ Staff in Prep Match Before AVP Showdown
Here’s a midweek spectacle that somehow feels oddly necessary: pro volleyball icons Chase Budinger and Brandie Wilkerson turned the TMZ sand court into their personal playground ahead of the AVP League Event in LA. Kicking off at TMZ’s Santa Monica campus on July 10, the former NBA forward and Paris Games silver medalist squared off against TMZ Sports reps Edward Lewis and Conor Hurley in a two-game tune-up that went from “friendly scrimmage” to full-blown blowout status in minutes.
In Game One, TMZ thought they had a chance after snagging the opening point, but that brief flash of optimism was snuffed out right away. Budinger’s powerful spikes and Wilkerson’s pinpoint placements made Edward and Conor look like they were chasing bubbles. The scoreboard read a lopsided 15-5 before the pros even broke a sweat—and yes, that’s when TMZ decided to call in reinforcements. Jim Eckhardt and Dylan Berry hopped in, but the outcome didn’t budge. Budinger and Wilkerson kept raining down shots, wrapping up Game Two at an even more unforgiving 15-2.
Sources confirm the match was more than just a bit of gym bragging: both pros are tuning up for back-to-back AVP appearances at the Intuit Dome this Friday and Saturday. Budinger told AVP’s official site that “the best of the best” would be duking it out under those lights, and after what we saw on the TMZ court, fans might want to brace for some serious fireworks. The pair didn’t just exit stage left, though. Post-match, they signed autographs and posed for pictures with the humbled TMZ crew—solid PR moves ahead of a weekend that promises high-stakes showdowns.
Word from enquirer.com and TMZ’s own coverage on July 10 backs up the scoreline details, while the AVP League Event schedule on avp.com confirms their upcoming fixtures. If you’re penciling in your weekend, circle Friday and Saturday for a dose of pro-level sand volleyball, courtesy of two athletes who make crushing serves look almost too easy.
Anyway, that’s the gist. If you needed proof that even celebrity journalists can get humbled by elite athletes, here it is—and it’s setting the stage for an AVP weekend you won’t want to scroll past. Cool story, right? Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ.com (July 10, 2025 volleyball match recap), AVP.com (League Event schedule), enquirer.com (match details)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
