Tag:American Red Cross

Introduction To Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)
College sports are currently undergoing what may prove to be the single most significant change they will ever experience, all from one simple question: should college athletes be paid? The answer comes down to three letters: NIL.Until recently, the question of should college athletes be paid was answered by the fact that across all sports and universities, student athletes were considered amateurs and therefore prohibited from receiving monetary compensation for their athletic accomplishments. The concept of paying college athletes, however, has been anything but a clear cut issue.

Athletes have demanded compensation through various means and coaches have been caught trying to incentivize players to come to their school through elaborate gifts or sneaky offerings of cash, but the debate about paying college athletes has never moved the needle on any concrete action. While the NCAA and individual universities have profited off of the name, image, and likeness of their student athletes for decades, it isn’t until recently that the athletes themselves are being invited to take a slice of this massive pie of revenue.

The NCAA’s board of directors officially suspended the organization’s rules prohibiting athletes from selling the rights to their names, images and likenesses. These new rules, and the various state laws that have followed, represent a major shift in the NCAA’s definition of “amateur student athlete.” The debate asking should college athletes be paid is only heating up. While NCAA have long fought to keep students out of the money-making side of college sports, athletes now have varying extents of protection, allowing them to profit by selling their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.

NCAA president Mark Emmert explained the decision by saying this:

While this decision will have long-term implications which are yet to be foreseen, the short-term shift in amateurism rules means college athletes can start making money now. But how?The new guidelines provide a loose, gray area that is still being interpreted by lawyers and athletes alike. But one thing is for certain: athletes don’t need to wait for the dust to settle to start taking advantage of the new opportunities afforded them by NIL rules.

As of now, the NCAA has stated that the current rules are temporary until Congress has the opportunity to create national laws allowing for clearer regulations for future college athlete NIL deals. That means that currently all athletes have some opportunity to profit from NIL as state laws start to go into effect. So, if you want to know how exactly NIL works, who can profit off their NIL, which states have NIL laws, how athletes are currently cashing in on NIL, and/or how you can make money off of your own NIL, below is everything you need to know.

What does NIL mean and where did it come from?
In the simplest of terms, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is a term that describes the means through which college athletes are allowed to receive financial compensation. NIL refers to the use of an athlete’s name, image, and likeness through marketing and promotional endeavors. This can include autograph signings, product endorsements, social media posts, and more.At the same time, it’s important to understand what NIL does not mean. NCAA rules still prevent schools from paying players directly. This means that college coaches cannot offer money as an incentive for high school athletes to come play at their school, nor can athletes receive compensation directly from their university based upon their athletic achievements. Because the NCAA still intends to maintain its amateur sports status, paying athletes for their play on the field isn’t possible. However, NIL is the workaround for athletes to get paid without technically being considered professional athletes who make a living playing their sport.

NIL can trace its origins to a class-action lawsuit filed in the late 2000s that marks the beginning of the “should college athletes be paid” debate. Former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon argued that college athletes should be compensated for the use of their name and image in video games. Eventually, ​​A judge ordered the NCAA to pay $44.4 million in attorneys’ fees and another $1.5 million in costs to lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Ed O’Bannon class-action antitrust lawsuit. This case opened up the doors for more questions and lawsuits around athletes’ name, image, and likeness.

The largest of these advancements came in 2019 when California enacted the Fair Pay to Play Act, which allowed athletes to be compensated for promotional opportunities. Other states quickly followed and similar legislation in different regions forced the NCAA to take a look at their stance on NIL.

As of now, NIL guidelines are relatively simplistic, leaving a lot to interpretation. Per the NCAA board of directors, the rules state that:
College athletes can engage in NIL activities that are consistent with the law of the state where the school is located.Colleges and universities are responsible for determining whether those activities are consistent with state law.

Student-athletes who attend a school in a state without a NIL law can engage in this type of activity without violating NCAA rules related to name, image and likeness.

College athletes can use a professional services provider for NIL activities.

Student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their school.

As one can see, these rules have created a modern day Wild West situation, with everyone looking to find where exactly the line in the sand is and what might happen when they cross it. It’s no longer a question of should college athletes be paid, but how.What we do know is that payments for athletic-related performance cannot come from the universities themselves but must come from businesses. Also, some (but not all) state laws prohibit athletes from endorsing alcohol, tobacco, or gambling products, and some (but not all) states also prohibit athletes from using their school’s logos or other copyright material in endorsements.

Still, we’re starting to see athletes from all across the country and in all different sports start to take advantage of these new rules in interesting and creative ways.

Who does NIL apply to?
At first glance, NIL laws seem like something that would only apply to the top 1% of NCAA athletes—think the best college football quarterbacks, projected lottery picks, and other superstars. But in reality, that may not be the case.
Remember, the new rules allow athletes to profit from any of the following activities:

These types of activities are hardly limited to a certain group of athletes. Heisman Trophy candidates and backup linemen have an equal opportunity to make a profit. It depends on the avenues they choose to pursue. While one athlete can make more money signing autographs, another may be able to generate profit from giving lessons. It’s also hard to make an argument whether one school is more likely to see athletes make a profit off of their NIL than another.While it’s easy to envision large state schools such as The University of Texas or Ohio State quickly enabling their athletes to make a profit, it’s just as likely that small schools with a dedicated local following may actually afford a better market for various athletes.

The key here is that performance on the field has a relatively small impact on NIL potential. Of course, athletes who play a more publicized sport and who perform in a way that brings them increased attention have the ability to raise their NIL ceiling and increase their market potential. Yet, at the same time, athletes who can carve out a niche—be that through social media or a dedicated local following that regards them as a hometown hero—have a sizable advantage and a large NIL potential.

Whether an athlete chooses to post certain products on social media, sign autographs, teach camps, or promote a local pizzeria is completely up to them. The current NIL market is prepared to reward the athlete who creatively uses their name, image, and likeness to generate a profit.

In fact, we’re already seeing a wide variety of athletes take advantage of their NIL potential in unique ways.

How are athletes cashing in on NIL?
When thinking of NIL potential, one may go first to college football—by far the most lucrative of the college sports. But while many projected that the majority of NIL money would lean toward male athletes, the opposite has proven true. In what may come as a surprise to some, the first athletes to cash in on their NIL potential were two women’s basketball players.Hanna and Haley Cavinder, twin sisters who play for Fresno State’s basketball team and share millions of followers on social media, worked with Icone Source and Boost Mobile to strike a deal within hours of the NCAA instating the new NIL rules.

College athletes aren’t the only ones aware of the potential these new rules afford. Stephen Stokols, CEO of Boost Mobile, shared that they hope to partner with hundreds of student athletes in the coming years. Plus, while they’ve chosen to start with the Cavinder twins as a national campaign, they also have plans for athletes at a local level.

What that may look like has yet to be seen, but it’s clear that the Cavinder twins are just the start.But it’s not just the big names who are striking deals. Athletes have announced partnerships with local companies like a fireworks warehouse in Iowa and a barbecue joint in Arkansas that sponsored the team’s entire offensive line. Two Auburn football players struck noticeable deals as well. Bo Nix, quarterback, signed a “sweet” deal with Milo’s sweet tea, and Shaun Shivers announced a partnership with Yoke, a platform that lets fans play video games with (and against) athletes.

Other women’s basketball players who have made a splash include the University of Oregon’s Sedona Prince who offered her 2.5 million TikTok followers, 240k Instagram followers, and 43k Twitter followers custom merchandise. A similar move saw LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne launch a billboard in Times Square for her 3.9 million TikTok followers and 1.1 million Instagram followers (numbers that explain why she is projected to be the top-earning NIL athlete).

A selfless example of how NIL can be used for more than just money comes from Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons who shared the he would use the new rule changes to raise money via a GoFundMe to help his friend, Timothy Donovan, who suffers from an incurable disease, attend a Seminoles game in Tallahassee this season.

Also, in a move away from sports, Marshall offensive lineman Will Ulmer is hoping the new NIL rules will kick off his music career. On the other hand, with something tailored more specifically to sports, Dontaie Allen announced his own line of custom merchandise. Then, of course, there’s another example of a deal enabled with the help of Icon Source in Antwan Owens and four other Jackson State players signing a deal with 3 Kings Grooming, a black-owned hair product business.

Again, these are just some examples of the various creative ways athletes are beginning to test the waters. But when it comes to which deals make the most sense for which players, a lot of it boils down to the state in which these athletes live and play.

Which states have NIL laws?
As noted above, when it comes to NIL laws, “Colleges and universities are responsible for determining whether those activities are consistent with state law.” The current list of states who have NIL laws includes:

The NCAA has instructed schools located in states without an active NIL law to create and publish their own policies in the hopes that this will clear up any gray areas and create a plan to resolve the inevitable disputes that will arise. Schools still asking should college athletes be paid are already behind. At the same time that the NCAA is pushing individual schools, others are focusing on the national level.Almost a dozen bills have been proposed by various members of Congress aimed at reforming college sports and answering the should college athletes be paid question. While some focus specifically on addressing a national NIL standard, others have brought up the idea of giving athletes additional medical benefits, more educational opportunities, and the rights to collectively bargain. However, disagreements have stalled any NCAA legislative efforts in Washington, D.C., leaving these decisions primarily in the hands of individual states until something changes.

In summary, if a college athlete lives in a state where legislation has been passed, they can profit from their name, image, or likeness according to state law. And if a college athlete lives in a state that is without current NIL laws, it’s up to the individual schools to create a policy for athletes to follow. While the NCAA’s guidelines prevent direct pay to athletes and make it clear that NIL deals cannot influence recruiting, everything else is currently up to the individual states and universities.

How can I execute on my NIL potential?

As politicians, schools, and the parties interested in paying them wade through this brand new marketplace, it’s up to athletes to capitalize on their NIL potential. Of course, athletes already have their days filled with academics, sports activities, and studying, so choosing someone trustworthy to come alongside them and guide them through this ever-evolving space without making NIL an additional daily burden is going to be crucial.Since 2018, Icon Source has been the tool for professional athletes and their agents to connect with a much broader group of brands. This has empowered various brands (both national to hyper-local) to find the right athlete, connect with them on demand, and execute contracts through our wizard—all while protecting the athlete’s interests.

With Icon Source, student-athletes can manage their profiles on a single, easy-to-use mobile app. This app sends all required reporting data directly to the school, or to the school’s desired disclosure software. Plus, no need to worry about taxes. No matter how many deals, large or small, that an athlete completes on Icon Source, they will be provided with a single 1099.

Most importantly, Icon Source forces brands to use a single, non-editable contract, which protects student athletes from unforeseen NIL issues. With ZERO charge until Icon Source brings value to you, creating a profile is the risk-free way for college athletes to explore how they can capitalize on their unique NIL potential.

As the NIL landscape continues to unfold and as states and universities continue to clarify their laws and rules, now is the time for student athletes to get in the NIL game. Stop asking should college athletes be paid and start discovering how.

NCAA Name, Image, Likeness Rule

NCAA approves Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy

On June 30, 2021, the Division 1 Board of Directors approved an interim name, image and likeness (NIL) policy. This new policy allows all NCAA D1, D2 and D3 student-athletes to be compensated for their NIL as of July 1, 2021, regardless of whether their state has a NIL law in place or not.

The NCAA NIL rules do not override state, college/university or conference specific NIL rules. This means student-athletes need to review the NIL rules in the state where their school is located and check with their athletic department for any school and conference-specific rules to understand what limitations they will have on their NIL.

College student-athletes competing in states without an NIL law will have the freedom to receive compensation for their NIL however they see fit, as long as they do not violate pay-for-play or receive financial incentives to sign with or remain at a program.

Quick Links
What high school student-athletes need to know 
What states have signed NIL laws? 
Colleges/universities have their own NIL rules 
High school associations address the NIL rules 
National governing bodies sport-specific amateurism rules 
How to talk to college coaches about NIL 
Helping student-athletes monetize on their NIL 
What’s next for NIL? 
What NIL Means
NCAA NIL FAQs
What high school student-athletes need to know

High school athletes should tread carefully when looking into ways they can monetize on their NIL while in high school. While the NCAA rules say a high school student-athlete can begin to monetize their NIL in high school, doing so could violate their high school or sports association rules and jeopardize their eligibility within their sport or high school.

Many high school associations have released statements clarifying that the new NCAA NIL policy doesn’t change high school eligibility rules. In July 2021, Darren Heitner, founder of Heitner Legal and Chief Editor of Sports Agent Blog, had his firm review all states’ NIL laws and the bylaws established by the high school athletic associations. Heitner Legal concluded that, At the moment, California is the only state that clearly allows high school athletes to pursue NIL opportunities. According to the California Interscholastic Federation, California high school athletes can profit from their NIL, as long as they do not use their high school’s name or marks.

High school student-athletes should check the following sources of information to understand their NIL rights:

State laws
State high school associations
National and sport governing bodies (i.e. USGA’s NIL Guidance for Collegiate Golfers)  
College/Universities and Conferences they are interested in  
What states have signed NIL laws?

Individual states have begun proposing and passing their own laws allowing student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. As a result, the rules around NIL deals differ from state to state, with various restrictions on what athletes are allowed to promote. To understand each state’s NIL rule, here’s a comprehensive list of states with laws in place:

Alabama: Passed: April 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Arizona: Passed: March 2021. Effective: July 23, 2021

Arkansas: Passed: April 2021. Effective: Jan. 1, 2022

California: Passed: September 2019. Effective: Jan. 1, 2023

Colorado: Passed: March 2020. Effective: Jan. 1, 2023

Connecticut: Passed: June 2021. Effective: Sept. 1, 2021

Florida: Passed: June 2020. Effective: July 1, 2021

Georgia: Passed: May 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Illinois: Passed: June 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Louisiana: Passed: July 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Maryland: Passed: May 2021. Effective: July 1, 2023

Michigan: Passed: December 2020. Goes into effect: Dec. 31, 2022

Mississippi: Passed: April 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Montana: Passed: April 2021. Effective: June 1, 2023

Nebraska: Passed: July 2020. Effective: No later than July 1, 2023 (schools can implement new policy at any time).

Nevada: Passed: June 2021. Effective: Jan. 1, 2022

New Jersey: Passed: September 2020. Effective: September 2025

New Mexico: Passed: April 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Ohio: Passed: June 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Oklahoma: Passed: May 2021. Effective: July 1, 2023

Oregon: Passed: June 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Pennsylvania: Passed: June 2021. Effective: June 30, 2021

South Carolina: Passed: May 2021. Effective: July 1, 2022

Tennessee: Passed: May 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Texas: Passed: June 2021. Effective: July 1, 2021

Are colleges/universities creating their own NIL rules?

Yes, each individual school has oversight of NIL deals and the right to object to a deal if it conflicts with existing agreements. To help manage this process, some schools are turning to companies like Opendorse and INFLCR, which offers a platform for athletes to upload their NIL contracts for the compliance department to review and approve.

Athletes are expected to understand their school’s NIL policy and keep their school informed of all NIL arrangements. The best way to ensure student-athletes understand school-specific NIL rules is to work directly with their coaching and the compliance department. Check here for a list of institutions with NIL rules and regulations in place.

High school associations address the NIL rules

While college student-athletes can engage in NIL activity without fear of jeopardizing their eligibility, high school athletes are not as free to explore NIL opportunities. On July 7, the National Federation of State High School Associations’ executive director, Dr. Karissa Neihoff made a statement regarding the new NIL policy:

“While it is not our position to debate the merits of current college athletes earning money from their NIL, it should be understood that these changes do not affect current high school student-athletes. Current high school student-athletes CANNOT earn money as a result of their connection to their high school team.”

Below is access to the rules and regulations for each state high school association.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas

Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina

North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

National governing bodies sport-specific amateurism rules

Similar to states, colleges/universities and conferences, national governing bodies are beginning to create their own NIL guidelines for student-athletes to retain their amateur status. The first national governing body to address the new NIL policy is USGA. The association released their own set of guidelines that highlighted three requirements for student-athletes to remain amateur golfers.

The NIL-related actions are allowed under the NCAA’s interim policy,
He or she remains on a team roster while the NIL-related activities take place, and
There are no other breaches of the Rules of Amateur Status in connection with the NIL activities.

Below is access to the rules and regulations of sport-specific national governing bodies.

AAU Sports
USA Baseball
US Amateur Basketball
USA Cheer
USA Field Hockey
USA Football 
USGA
USA Gymnastics
USA Ice Hockey
USA Lacrosse
US Rowing
USA Soccer
USA Softball
USA Swimming
USTA
USATF
USA Volleyball
USA Water Polo
USA Wrestling

How to talk to college coaches about NIL

Moving forward, student-athletes interested in monetizing on their NIL will need to ask questions about NIL rules when talking with coaches. Before speaking with a coach, prospective student-athletes should create a list of questions about the NIL rules that would impact them. Below are a few suggested questions:

What NIL rules are enforced by your school and conference?
What is NIL going to look like for me if I come to your institution?
How are current student-athletes monetizing their NIL?
What marketplaces are your current athletes using to monetize on their NIL?
What platform is your compliance office using to manage and approve NIL contracts?
Helping student-athletes monetize on their NIL

Student-athletes looking to monetize on their NIL will need help securing deals. While there are many companies that have been working with professional athletes for years that will offer their services to college athletes, there are a number of new companies that have recently launched specifically to help collegiate athletes. To learn about some of these new brands, check out the NIL Network’s coverage on digital marketplaces, as well as the BCS tracker which offers a running list of marketplaces.

What’s next for NIL?

While the NCAA intends to work with federal congressional legislators to replace the interim policy with a single nationwide policy, there is no timeline on when that might happen. NCSA will continue to monitor changes as they relate to NIL laws and provide updates to the team, when necessary.

For student-athletes looking for additional resources covering NIL updates on an ongoing basis, check out the weekly NIL Network podcast, Fi-Nil-ly.

What NIL means

What is the right of publicity? Name, image and likeness (or NIL) are the three elements that make up “right of publicity”, a legal concept used to prevent or allow the use of an individual to promote a product or service. For example, if an athlete’s photograph is taken while wearing an athletic brand, and that brand uses the photo to promote their products without the athlete’s consent, that athlete could claim the brand is in violation of the right of publicity.

The right of publicity is generally used to protect against the misuse of an individual’s name, image and likeness for commercial promotion. However, the NCAA has been scrutinized for years, as critics say the NCAA takes advantage of student-athletes by using their name, image and likeness for profit, while not allowing the athletes to cash in, as well.

With the NCAA changing the existing NIL rules to begin allowing athletes the right to profit from the use of their own name, image and likeness, here are a few examples of what student-athletes could now be paid for:

Their autograph
Developing and/or modeling athletic and non-athletic clothing apparel
Promoting products and services
Making personal appearances

Keep reading for more detailed examples of how student-athletes may profit from the upcoming NIL rules changes.

NCAA NIL FAQs

What does NIL mean?

NIL stands for name, image, likeness. For years, the NCAA has used the name, image and likeness of college athletes to promote NCAA athletic programs and drive revenue. The NCAA’s interim NIL policy allows student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their NIL.

When did NIL start?

Effective July 1, 2021, the NCAA approved name, image, and likeness policy allows student-athletes to monetize their NIL. However, no federal legislation or specific NCAA NIL rules have been established. NIL activities and restrictions vary from state to state and school to school, which means student-athletes must understand both sets of rules before entering into any NIL agreements.

Congress of Athletes Entertainers and Celebrities Creating Alternatives for Youths (CAECAY) Maximizing Athlete’s Brand Potential

In today’s evolving landscape of sports and entertainment, the ability for college student athletes to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has opened up unprecedented opportunities. The Congress of Athletes Entertainers and Celebrities Creating Alternatives for Youths (CAECAY), in collaboration with the Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation (AMWF), Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstarmanagement.com, Superstar Management, Ex-why AdVentures, ex-why.com, Nowtruth.org, and Nowtruth, aims to leverage their collective 50 years of experience to support athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers in maximizing their earning potential through NIL initiatives. CAECAY and its affiliated platforms are established as industry leaders in assisting athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers in monetizing their NIL. This marketing plan outlines strategies to effectively promote and harness the power of NIL for these individuals.

Julia Foxx

Objectives:

Educate and guide student athletes on the benefits, legalities, and best practices of NIL monetization.

Facilitate brand partnerships and endorsement opportunities for athletes and influencers.

Generate awareness and engagement through targeted marketing campaigns.

Drive revenue growth for individuals involved in the program.

Target Audience:

College student athletes looking to monetize their personal brand through NIL initiatives.

Brands and businesses seeking authentic partnerships with athletes and influencers.

Sports enthusiasts and fans interested in engaging with their favorite athletes on a more personal level.

Marketing Strategies:

a) Establish an Online Presence:

Develop a comprehensive website (e.g., CAECAY.org) as a central hub for information, resources, and success stories related to NIL monetization.

Optimize the website for search engines to enhance visibility and organic traffic.

Create engaging content, including articles, blog posts, and videos, highlighting the benefits and success stories of athletes who have monetized their NIL.

b) Educational Programs and Workshops:

Organize workshops, webinars, and seminars to educate student athletes on the nuances of NIL monetization, including legal considerations, branding strategies, and contract negotiations.

Collaborate with universities, sports organizations, and player associations to deliver comprehensive educational programs.

c) Athlete Representation and Management:

Offer professional representation and management services to athletes and influencers seeking to monetize their NIL.

Provide guidance in brand development, contract negotiations, and endorsement opportunities.

Foster relationships with industry experts, including lawyers, marketers, and financial advisors, to offer comprehensive support to clients.

d) Brand Partnerships and Endorsements:

Identify and connect athletes and influencers with suitable brand partnerships and endorsement opportunities.

Develop a database of brands interested in collaborating with athletes and influencers to promote their products or services.

Leverage AMWF’s online platform, amwftrust.org, to facilitate connections between athletes, influencers, and brands.

e) Social Media and Digital Campaigns:

Utilize social media platforms to amplify the reach and engagement of athletes and influencers.

Create compelling content showcasing athletes’ personal stories, training routines, and community involvement.

Implement targeted advertising campaigns to reach specific demographics and increase brand visibility.

Measurement and Evaluation:

Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, social media engagement, brand partnerships secured, and revenue generated through NIL initiatives.

Conduct regular surveys and feedback sessions to gather insights from athletes, influencers, and brand partners.

Use analytics tools to monitor the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and make data-driven adjustments.

Budget Allocation:

Allocate a budget for website development and maintenance, content creation, social media advertising, event organization, and educational programs.

Regularly review and optimize the budget based on the effectiveness of each initiative.

With the recent changes allowing college student athletes to monetize their NIL, there is a significant opportunity for CAECAY, AMWF, Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, and their affiliated platforms to provide guidance and support to athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers. By implementing a strategic marketing plan that focuses on establishing an online presence, delivering educational programs, facilitating brand partnerships, and leveraging digital campaigns, CAECAY can help maximize the earning potential of individuals in the NIL era. This approach will not only empower athletes and influencers but also create mutually beneficial relationships with brands and enhance fan engagement.

To enjoy these benefits, join CAECAY’s “ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR”, go to“Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS”:  https://caecay.org/matching-charitable-philanthropic-organizations-with-icons/ or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”:  https://caecay.org/matching-icons-with-charitable-philantropic-organizations/

CAECAY Marketing Plan evaluates the Impact of CAECAY with Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstar Management, ¿eX-whY? and Nowtruth partner clients Matching Athletes, Entertainers, Celebrities, and Influencers on Support Charities Creating Opportunities and Alternatives for Youth.

CAECAY’s marketing plan aims evaluates the impact of matching athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers with support charities that create opportunities and alternatives for youth. By leveraging the reach and influence of these individuals, the plan seeks to measure the effectiveness of their involvement in raising awareness, driving engagement, and generating support for these charitable organizations.

Elton John Oscar Party

CAECAY Objective:

The primary objective of this marketing plan is to assess the impact of matching athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers with support charities on creating opportunities and alternatives for youth. The specific goals include:

a) Measuring the increase in awareness and visibility of the charities’ initiatives.

b) Evaluating the engagement and response generated by the target audience.

c) Assessing the growth in support, both in terms of donations and volunteer involvement.

CAECAY Target Audience:

The target audience for this marketing plan includes:

a) Existing supporters of the charities.

b) Potential donors interested in youth development and social causes.

c) Youth themselves, who can benefit from the alternatives created by these charities.

d) Fans and followers of the athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers.

CAECAY Strategy:

a) Partnership Selection: Identify athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers whose values align with the mission and vision of the support charities. Consider their credibility, influence, and ability to connect with the target audience.

b) Collaborative Campaigns: Design engaging and impactful campaigns that highlight the work of the charities, emphasizing the positive outcomes and alternatives they create for youth. Incorporate the personalities and unique talents of the selected individuals to maximize impact and resonance.

c) Multi-channel Approach: Utilize various marketing channels such as social media, television, radio, events, and print media to reach a wide range of audiences. Tailor the messaging to each channel and target audience segment to ensure maximum effectiveness.

d) Tracking and Analysis: Implement tracking mechanisms to monitor the impact of the campaigns. Evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) such as increased brand awareness, website traffic, social media engagement, donations received, and volunteer sign-ups. Regularly analyze data to gauge the success of the campaigns and make necessary adjustments.

CAECAY Implementation:

a) Develop compelling campaign narratives that highlight the stories of youth who have benefited from the alternatives created by the support charities.

b) Create visually appealing and shareable content that resonates with the target audience.

c) Collaborate with the selected individuals to co-create and distribute campaign content through their social media channels, leveraging their existing fan base and influence.

d) Organize events and fundraisers that provide opportunities for the target audience to engage directly with the support charities and the partnered athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers.

CAECAY Evaluation:

a) Conduct regular surveys and polls to measure changes in awareness, perception, and willingness to support the charities.

b) Monitor social media metrics, website analytics, and donation data to assess the impact of the campaigns.

c) Compare the performance of campaigns with and without the involvement of athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers to gauge their effectiveness.

d) Seek feedback from the support charities, individuals involved, and the target audience to identify areas of improvement and potential future collaborations.

CAECAY with Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstar Management, ¿eX-whY? and Nowtruth partner clients Matching athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers with support charities has the potential to create significant positive change for youth by raising awareness, driving engagement, and generating support. By implementing this marketing plan and evaluating the impact of their involvement, we can measure the effectiveness of such collaborations and continuously improve strategies to maximize the benefits for the support charities and the youth they serve.

To enjoy these benefits, join CAECAY’s “ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR”, go to“Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS”:  https://caecay.org/matching-charitable-philanthropic-organizations-with-icons/ or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”:  https://caecay.org/matching-icons-with-charitable-philantropic-organizations/ pages to complete the requisite form and submission.

CAECAY’S ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR

Congress of Athletes Entertainers and Celebrities Creating Alternatives for Youths

Welcome to the Congress of Athletes Entertainers and Celebrities Creating Alternatives for Youths (CAECAY), CAECAY’s ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR, at the CAECAY.ORG website.

In today’s digital age, the power of personal branding has never been more apparent. For student athletes, entertainers, celebrities, and influencers, the ability to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has become a game-changer. A world of opportunities has opened up in NIL. Leading the way in this transformative landscape is the Congress of Athletes Entertainers and Celebrities Creating Alternatives for Youths (CAECAY). With over 50 years of experience and a commitment to empowering individuals, CAECAY, in collaboration with esteemed organizations and personalities like the Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation (AMWF), Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstar Management, Ex-why AdVentures, and Nowtruth, is poised to revolutionize the world of NIL monetization.

CAECAY works with the Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation (AMWF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that was founded in 1957, in collaboration with Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstar Management, ¿eX-whY? AdVentures and Nowtruth. This strategic union assist professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers in fulfilling their philanthropic aspirations and charities in fundraising fulfillment using celebrities. The AMWF, Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Superstar Management, ¿eX-whY? AdVentures and Nowtruth strategic union accomplishes this mission with it’s unique offering of superior attributes for providing professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, and celebrity like organizations, with Brand Ambassadors, endorsements, partnerships and sponsorships, advertising, marketing, sales, promotional, strategic media and social media campaigns, with expert advice and services in Motion Picture, Television, Video, Radio, Audio, Print Commercial/Ads, Social Media, Podcast, Blog/Vlog, Web Ads that include state of the art technology and a 501(c)(3) platform from which they can conduct their charitable events. In addition to these services, CAECAY also provides professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers with processing and fulfillment services to help them meet the numerous requests for assistance that they receive from charities each year.

CAECAY further meets its mission by increasing the accessibility of charities to professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, and the tremendous benefits that such access can provide to charities. This goal is primarily accomplished through CAECAY’s “ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR”, with the “Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS” or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”, which ever applies to you.

CAECAY has also donated at no charge to the charity, autographed memorabilia by the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers experiences that the charities then use to raise funds for their programs. Since its inception, CAECAY has worked with charities from around the corner to around the world, that help the poor and disadvantaged, youth, assist those afflicted by disease, aid veterans injured by war, social justice, and homelessness.

To join CAECAY’s ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR, go to “Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS”:  https://caecay.org/matching-charitable-philanthropic-organizations-with-icons/ or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”:  https://caecay.org/matching-icons-with-charitable-philantropic-organizations/

The Mission of CAECAY is “To unite the goodwill of professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers with the generosity of their fans to assist people in need” which it achieves by assisting professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities, influencers and related organizations in fulfilling their philanthropic aspirations.

Since it’s inception, it has also been a primary goal of CAECAY to increase the accessibility of charities to professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers and the tremendous benefits that such access can provide to them. This is primarily done with our Brand Ambassadors, endorsements, partnerships and sponsorships, advertising, marketing, sales, promotional, strategic media and social media campaigns, with expert advice and services in Motion Picture, Television, Video, Radio, Audio, Print Commercial/Ads, Social Media, Podcast, Blog/Vlog, Web Ads.

One special feature we can provide is donating autographed memorabilia for fundraising purposes through CAECAY’s ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR. Join CAECAY’s ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR at “Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS”:  https://caecay.org/matching-charitable-philanthropic-organizations-with-icons/ or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations” https://caecay.org/matching-icons-with-charitable-philantropic-organizations/

Athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, and their agents, are often inundated with requests from charities to assist them with their fundraising efforts. These requests often include requests for autographed memorabilia, lending the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers’s name to the charity, or making a personal appearance on behalf of the charity. Furthermore, they are also often asked, by both charities and individuals, to provide autographed memorabilia and/or to meet seriously or terminally ill individuals.

In most cases, professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers are all too willing to sign a photo for a fan, especially one who is ill, or provide a charity with various autographed memorabilia for their fundraising efforts. However, given the active and lucrative memorabilia market that exists today, these professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers want to make sure that these items are going to fans or charities and not to unscrupulous dealers and individuals.

To assist professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, and their agents, in meeting these many requests, CAECAY provides celebrities with a service whereby CAECAY represents the philanthropic interests of the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers; effectively becoming their “philanthropic agent”. The celebrities and their agents direct any charitable requests they receive to CAECAY, where CAECAY processes and fulfills these requests on behalf of the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers. Requests for autographed memorabilia are screened to ensure that the items will be utilized for charitable purposes and, if approved, the requests are fulfilled with items that have been purchased, autographed by the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers.

Requests for the use of a professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers name, image or likeness, or for a personal appearance by a them, are scrutinized against criteria set forth by the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers. If the request meets these criteria, CAECAY forwards the request to them for their review.

CAECAY does not charge professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers or those receiving memorabilia for this service. However, these professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers appear at CAECAY fundraising events that help raise the funds for CAECAY’s programs.

Many charities do not have the constituency or the access to professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers to garner much, if any, support from them. To assist these charities, CAECAY’s ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR utilizes CAECAY’s relationships with the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers it works with to provide some assistance to these charities. CAECAY can provide autographed memorabilia that charities can, by applying directly to CAECAY, have donated to them for utilization in their fundraising efforts.

Athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers often seek to utilize their professional success to fulfill their philanthropic aspirations but often find the myriad of state and federal statutes that regulate charitable organizations both overwhelming to them and beyond the expertise of their traditional advisors. Additionally, those who do manage to navigate these regulations are often surprised to find that there are many ongoing responsibilities required to maintain such a charitable organization.

CAECAY provides these professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers with professional advice as to how they can best achieve their philanthropic aspirations; explaining to them the details of what is involved in establishing and maintaining their own foundation, as well as several other options that are available to them. CAECAY provides these services to professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers free of charge.

Elton John Oscar Party

Often, professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers want to assist certain charitable causes but do not want to establish their own foundations. Furthermore, whereas they are lending their name, image, likeness and reputation, to any such charitable endeavor, they want to ensure that it is conducted professionally and with the utmost integrity.

CAECAY provides these professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers with a 501(c)3 non-profit forum from which they can conduct charitable events such as concerts, celebrity golf and tennis tournaments, basketball games, hockey games, softball games, and casino nights. CAECAY also assists these professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers with Brand Ambassadors, endorsements, partnerships and sponsorships, advertising, marketing, sales, promotional, strategic media and social media campaigns, with expert advice and services in Motion Picture, Television, Video, Radio, Audio, Print Commercial/Ads, Social Media, Podcast, Blog/Vlog, Web Ads in conducting these events by preparing a budget, retaining the services of a production company, and soliciting sponsors and participants.

For its services, CAECAY retains a small portion of the proceeds to fund its charitable work and donates the remaining net proceeds to the charity, or charities, that the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers event was created to support.

While many of the services that CAECAY provides are designed to assist professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers in fulfilling their own philanthropic aspirations, CAECAY does currently provide charities that are not directly supported by a professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, especially small ones, with various autographed memorabilia for use with their own fundraising efforts. The autographed memorabilia that CAECAY provides is from professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers and the donation of this memorabilia is worldwide.

If you are a charity and would like CAECAY assist you in securing a athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers, and/or with Brand Ambassadors, endorsements, partnerships and sponsorships, advertising, marketing, sales, promotional, strategic media and social media campaigns, with expert advice and services or to donate autographed memorabilia to your organization for its fundraising efforts, please join CAECAY’s “ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR”, complete the Online request form for “Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS” or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”, which ever one applies to you. Print and sign it, then please submit the Application, along with the additional information that is required, in accordance with the Instructions. Please note that CAECAY’s ability to fulfill your request is subject to the availability of autographed memorabilia at the time of your application. Furthermore, you must apply at least six months before your fundraising event to receive a donation.

If you are interested in any of the other Services that CAECAY offers, please Contact CAECAY directly at CAECAY@CAECAY.org.

To join CAECAY’s “ICONS CHARITY REGISTRAR”, go to“Matching Charitable Philanthropic Organizations with ICONS”:  https://caecay.org/matching-charitable-philanthropic-organizations-with-icons/ or “Matching ICONS with Charitable Philanthropic Organizations”:  https://caecay.org/matching-icons-with-charitable-philantropic-organizations/

Fee Schedule

FREE/Small Fee: CAECAY represents the philanthropic interests of the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers; effectively becoming their “philanthropic agent” FREE or for a small fee depending on the labor intensity needs of the client. The celebrities and their agents direct any charitable requests they receive to CAECAY, where CAECAY processes and fulfills these requests on behalf of the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers. Requests for autographed memorabilia are screened to ensure that the items will be utilized for charitable purposes and, if approved, the requests are fulfilled with items that have been purchased, autographed by the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers.

Service Fee: For its services, CAECAY retains a small portion of the proceeds from the events we work on to fund its charitable work and donates the remaining net proceeds to the charity, or charities, that the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers event was created to support.

Sliding Scale: Small business charities pay an amount that is calculated based on their size, ability to pay, and needs being Local- City, County; State; Regional; National, or Worldwide for our services, CAECAY retains a small portion of the proceeds to fund its charitable work and donates the remaining net proceeds to the charity, or charities, that the professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities and influencers event was created to support.

Hourly Rate: Based on our FULL SERVICES to the clients.

Percentage: Based on our FULL SERVICES to the clients.

Hourly Rate against a Percentage: Based on our FULL SERVICES to the clients that will pay an hourly fee that is applied to the percentage fee return.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was not able to profit off his NILrights as a defensive tackle at Miami in the 1990s.

Things have significantly changed since then. The former professional wrestler is now one of the most recognized and highest-paid actors in Hollywood. An owner of the XFL, he has his own Under Armour line.

The Rock also has his own energy drink, ZOA, which has entered the NIL world in a very big way. An annual program dubbed, “The Rock’s Warriors,” has signed NIL deals with seven college athletes. Georgia‘s Brock Bowers, Austin Peay‘s Hansel Enmanuel, Florida A&M‘s Amaya Gainer, Ohio State‘s Marvin Harrison Jr., Miami’s Kamren Kinchens, North Carolina‘s Drake Maye and LSU‘s Angel Reese have all inked endorsement deals with the brand.

Each athlete was selected by The Rock. Everett Sports Management‘s Rachel Everett, Dan Everett and Jeff Hoffmancreated and procured the NIL campaign.

“Through this first-of-its-kind NIL expansion program, ZOA Energy will bring together some of the greatest college athletes of our time,” The Rock said in a statement. “I know from experience the grit and hard work that’s required of these college athletes to get the job done. Not just during their championship games or in the classrooms, but every day in the game of life. ZOA gives people that power, that unique energy to fuel themselves and fuel others around them – that’s why I’m super pumped about uniting all of The Rock’s Warriors under one roof.

“I personally selected these phenomenal individuals because of the energy, tenacity, and excitement they bring to the game. With a diverse set of stories and experiences, they’re driven, hungry, talented and ready for ZOA to help fuel them to greatness.”

Provided by ESM
Details of ZOA NIL campaign

As part of the agreements, the athletes will lead an upcoming marketing campaign for the energy drink and will release content across their social media platforms. “The Rock’s Warriors” will support national and regional partnerships through the deal.

“NIL is a brave new world,” ESM’s Dan Everett told On3. “Working alongside disruptive and multifaceted brands can be a catalyst for groundbreaking work. For ESM Sports, procuring the right talent to accelerate awareness and consideration for ZOA was the goal. Combining seven of college athletic’s biggest names with the stardom of The Rock is the single most defining moment in NIL history.”

ZOA pieced together a loaded class of NIL talent. Reese has seen her national profile soar following LSU’s national title, adding 3.6 million social media followers and signing NIL deals with brands like PlayStation and Starry.

“I’m pumped to be a part of such a unique group of athletes, and who better than The Rock to bring us together for a one-of-a-kind opportunity,” Reese said. “ZOA is all about putting in the work, learning from your wins and losses, and empowering others, something I strive to do every day on and off the court, so it was a no-brainer to join the first class of The Rock’s Warriors.”

Harrison had 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. He’s started to take advantage of his marketability, recently launching a memorabilia website and signing with Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet. Maye has become one of college football’s most marketable names since last season. The quarterback wrapped up his rookie campaign throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Touting a 66.2% completion percentage, he led the Tar Heels to an ACC title game appearance.

An Everett Sports Management client, Bowers has played a significant role in helping Georgia win the last two national title games. Name to the first-team All-SEC, first-team All-American and the John Mackey Award winner, he turned down deals from Georgia’s Classic City Collective this winter. Instead, he’s inked partnerships with companies like NOBULL and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Dominican Republic native and one-handed basketball sensation Hansel Enmanuel received approval for an O-1 visa in October, which gives him the ability to pursue NIL deals in the U.S. through his newfound work authorization. He has agreed to deals with adidas and Gatorade.

A safety, Kinchens has a $474,000 On3 NIL Valuation. A first-team All-America last season, he led the Hurricanes with 59 total tackles along with six interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

“It is the maturation of commercial NIL. ESM’s ability to create, navigate and bring together these amazing NIL athletes for ZOA cannot be overstated,” Hoffman told On3. “Equally as impressive is the ZOA team’s ability to be brave, nimble and creative in the execution of such a tremendous activation. The Rock’s Warriors is how high-profile, real NIL (commercial NIL) is done right.”

Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, bought a Maybach after a huge NIL deal. Here is a video of them driving in the car.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his son, Shedeur Sanders, hope to turn the program’s fortune around after it won just one game this past season.

Deion put the program in a massive overhaul with the transfer portal and brought in Shedeur and other players to quickly try and make the Buffaloes competitive. Shedeur will play quarterback and have all eyes on him this season.

He has scored NIL deals with Mercedes-Benz, Gatorade, Tom Brady’s clothing brand and Beats by Dre, among other outlets. On3 reported in November that Sanders has an NIL value of $1.3 million.

Wednesday, Deion posted a video in which he is driving with Shedeur in a Maybach, which has a starting price of $200,000.

“It wasn’t like this when I was in college,” Deion said in the video.

Shedeur and Deion Sanders will look to bring attention to Colorado football this season. The Buffaloes have not had a winning season since 2016 and have failed to reach five wins since 2019.

Deion coached Jackson State football for the last three seasons. He led the Tigers to back-to-back SWAC championships in 2021 and 2022. Last season, they finished 12-1.

Shedeur’s Maybach

Coach Prime will bring in the nation’s No. 2 transfer class to try and turn Colorado football around. The Buffaloes have a very difficult schedule with TCU, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Oregon State and Utah among their opponents. Only the Bruins had fewer than 10 wins in 2022 (they had nine).

Colorado football is picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 by 247Sports. The Buffaloes hope they can finish even higher and shock the nation.

The Bayou’s budding Superteam is great for college sports.
XAVIER HANDY-HAMILTON
From a fairness standpoint, the NIL era has been beautiful for the college athlete. No longer do they have to sacrifice their bodies with little to nothing in return other than the expectation for them to be grateful because they now have a “free” education.From an entertainment standpoint, the influx of NIL contracts has led to an inflation in “stardom.” When a lineman at a mid-major can have his agent negotiate a burrito deal for him, it becomes hard to decipher who the real stars are. If a program inks a player to a 6 figure-plus deal, it’s in the school’s interest to push them to the forefront despite their true impact on winning.

Ironically, the clarity college sports is seeking can be found in the muddy waters of the Mississippi.

The legend of Angel Reese is just getting started. Fresh off LSU’s national championship win and her boastful post-game actions, the budding star has quickly become a hot commodity in the NIL world.

Angel Reese

Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers have conducted a crash-course in how to effectively utilize NIL money. Instead of using the cash to boost players with potential, hoping they pan out, Mulkey and the Tigers have operated the last two offseasons like a professional front office. To build 2023’s National Championship team, they grabbed a proven star in Angel Reese from Maryland and surrounded her with experienced role players out of the portal, some of whom played for Mulkey’s Baylor teams or were recruited by her in high school.

Reese’s polarizing personality — at its brightest in the runaway National Championship win over Iowa and Caitlyn Clark — and capable skills on the court pushed her past the pack of college players who have been tagged with the “star” label into a lane of her own now. And while the majority of collegiate impact players are leagues behind their professional counterparts when it comes to notoriety, it can be argued that the “Bayou Barbie” is now the biggest name in all of women’s basketball. That’s real superstardom.

The story could end here (don’t worry, it doesn’t). With a true star like Reese returning and a bubbling second option in Flau’jae “Big 4” Johnson, Mulkey’s Tigers looked poised to once again compete with South Carolina, Iowa and the top of women’s basketball for another National Championship.

Yet, like any good professional general manager, Mulkey didn’t waste an opportunity to get better just because she had stable pieces.

Instead, Mulkey hitched up the F-150, backed her boat into the banks of the Transfer Portal and went fishing. Unlike last year, she wasn’t just looking for role pieces that complement her star forward. This time, she was looking to reel in the big catfish. The ones that break records, not just supply a fry. And, boy did her catch tip the scales this offseason.

LSU walked away from the portal with commitments from Louisville’s top guard Hailey Van Lith — who 247Sports’ expert contributor Brandon Clay had pegged as the No. 2 player in the women basketball transfer portal. The Tigers didn’t stop there. They also hauled in Clay’s No. 1 player in the portal, DePaul forward Aneesah Morrow.

This gives LSU a potential starting line up that contains Van Lith, Big 4, Morrow and the Bayou Barbie. For fans who don’t get how pivotal this is, it’s basically the equivalent of a Cash Money Hot Boys track. No matter where you turn, there’s either an experienced spitter waiting in the wings or a young, hungry rapper on the attack. The beat (or opposing defense in this case) has no chance to relax.

The Bayou’s budding superteam is great for college sports in general. Not only does it bring light to women’s sports, but each member of this quartet brings a unique approach to the game that any fan can get behind.

Van Lith is a Kobe disciple. She trained with the Mamba in high school and it shows with her explosive offensive game and aggressive scoring. She embraces all the things fans loved about Bean, but this also comes with an attitude that can rub some of the “basketball purists” the wrong way.

Now, if you’re into a do-it-all, “blue collar” star, then look no further than All-American Aneesah Morrow. The DePaul standout averaged 25.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game last season with an outstanding usage rate. She’s able to initiate the offense while also doing the dirty work.

As for Big 4 (Flau’jae “Big 4” Johnson, if you forgot): her development and production will be a bit of a question mark given that she’ll have to defer the ball to more experienced players. But what isn’t unknown is her ability to find a spark. She’s shown countless times during LSU’s title run that she’s capable of getting hot in a hurry. This will put stress on opposing defenses as they try to limit Van Lith, Morrow and Reese just to get torched by Johnson. It will also continue to make her a fan-favorite as her dagger shots will likely come in high demand.

Angel Reese speaks for herself. Like Morrow, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win but has the boisterous personality that will intrigue fans who are into the style points (I’m part of this demographic, myself). Similar to Van Lith, Reese doesn’t back down from a chance to challenge the moment, so it’s hard to say that her on-court personality isn’t warranted.

Outside of their on-court production, the fact that nothing seemed forced or constructed will make LSU’s pending superteam a crossover hit. They aren’t painting disses to their opponents on their fingernails or turning their name into condiments. They’re genuinely themselves at all times and refuse to step outside of their personalities. It just so happens that their natural personas seem to balance each other and that realness resonates with fans.

As tenacious as Van Lith comes off, it still doesn’t seem like a “tough guy (or girl)” act. As for Reese, she didn’t just put on this personality once she started winning at LSU. That’s just the first time you guys started paying attention to her. But if you cared to do research, you can find videos of her at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore antagonizing and dominating her opponents the same way she did during the title game.

Although Morrow’s hard work, no-nonsense approach to the game balances the scale that’s leaning Reese and Van Lith’s way, it isn’t fake humility. She built herself into one of the best players in the game at DePaul without the glitz and glamor of a major program. DePaul head coach Doug Bruno details how Morrow sets goals for herself before every game only to shatter them during the contest.

“Aneesah talks about goals,” Bruno said. “She’s got individual goals for every game and individual goals for the season. She’s got individual goals for when she graduates from DePaul. But to reach those goals, she has to keep getting better.”

It’s hard to hate on someone who leaves no stone unturned when perfecting their craft, even though they’re already near the top. This only further proves to spectators that she deserves the NIL boost and to finally take her spot on the big stage.

For Johnson, she’s not an athlete with an affinity for rapping who releases cringe-worthy freestyles just because they have access to a professional studio. No. She’s a real recording artist who has a distribution deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation record label. Johnson dedicates time to her craft in the booth and on the court with aspirations of starting her own record label in the future. As a result, it’s easy to accept her raps as part of her personality. Fans can get behind her “Big 4” persona because they know it’s naturally her and not something she’s doing as a gimmick.

This collective of real stars will do wonders for college sports, but it will definitely spell out trouble for the WNBA. Reese, the hottest name in the sport, has said on several occasions that she doesn’t even think about going pro. And why would she?

While the world has been belting out the opening line of NBA YoungBoy’s “Fresh Prince of Utah,” Reese really did bring a parade to the rapper’s hometown where she’s treated (and compensated) like a superstar, making over $1 million in NIL money. She’s going to grace Sports Illustrated’s “Swimsuit Edition”, flies in chartered jets to LSU away games with her teammates, frequently goes on elaborate shopping sprees that she documents on social media and just bought herself a new Mercedes. What more could a 21-year-old want?

In comparison, A’ja Wilson (two-time WNBA MVP, a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a WNBA champion) is set to make $202,115 in the 2023-24 season. Candace Parker, a sure-fire, first ballot Hall of Fame player, told the media that her decision to team up with Wilson on the Aces was partly fueled by the team’s new facilities. Parker explained that at no point in her illustrious career did she have a locker to call her own until Las Vegas built its new arena.

That puts Reese in the rare space where her personal brand would be taking a step back if she chooses to go pro. The same can be said for Van Lith, who is reportedly making over $500,000 in NIL and Johnson, who is set to pocket a little under $1 million herself this year. The WNBA will need to scramble to find ways to bridge the pay gap between its salaries and NIL if it wants to compete for these real college superstars and the future players who will undoubtedly follow their financial footprints.

Fortunately for the WNBA (and college sports fans), Reese and Van Lith don’t have to cross that bridge for at least another year. Because right now, Mulkey and Co. are solely focused on actualizing the potential of this superteam by bringing home another banner to the Bayou.

LSU’s Angel Reese Dominating NIL Space, Agrees to Deal With SI Swimsuit
Reese has become one of the most marketable athletes, signs another noteworthy deal.

All-American forward Angel Reese continues maximizing her opportunities in the NIL space after entering an agreement to be featured in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. The LSU star will be accompanied by fellow Tiger Livvy Dunne as the only two college athletes in the magazine.

“Angel entered into a standard agreement with SI Swimsuit to appear in print and digital editorial media for the publication and to attend the launch event,” Sports Illustrated tells LSU Country.

The edition of the magazine will be released on May 12th with both Reese and Dunne being the first college athletes to ever be featured.

“We’ve done so much within a year,” Reese told SI. “We weren’t even supposed to be in the Final Four. We had nine new players, and it was coach [Kim Mulkey]’s second year in the SEC, so we didn’t know what to expect. We just went out there and had fun all the time and put in a lot of work all season.”

LSU has dominated the NIL space over the last year. From Reese to Dunne to other student athletes adding monstrous deals, it’s clear the university is ahead of the curve in this new era of college athletics.

After Reese made the move from Maryland to LSU, her status continued to skyrocket. With sheer dominance on the court, averaging a cool 23 points and 15 rebounds a game, her status off the floor became much more marketable.

The superstar forward led the Tigers to their first national title in program history, and after the championship game, it’s been nonstop for Reese. She’s been featured on Good Morning America, signed a deal with Mercedes Benz, Coach and much more as her NIL valuation reaches the $1.4 million mark via On3’s system.

Reese has the chance to keep the momentum rolling as she goes through the offseason before the 2023-24 season. Despite being eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese has stated she’s “in no rush” to leave college. Time will tell, but for now, Reese is living in the moment as she transforms women’s basketball.

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