Unrivaled announced that 14 college players have signed NIL days with the organization on Saturday, including such high-profile players as JuJu Watkins (USC), Azzi Fudd (UConn), Lauren Betts (UCLA) and Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame).
13 of the players are new signees, joining returnee Flau’jae Johnson of LSU.
Joining that group are UCLA’s Sienna Betts, Texas’ Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson, TCU’s Olivia Miles, UCLA’s Kiki Rice, UConn’s Sarah Strong and Michigan’s Syla Swords.
The NIL deals do not obligate the players to compete in Unrivaled.
Unrivaled is a three-on-three professional women’s basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart that is fresh off its first competitive season, which takes place in late winter.
The announcements came in the wake of WNBA players expressing continued public disappointment about collective bargaining negotiations, while Unrivaled makes inroads with notable players like top draft pick Paige Bueckers, who is locked in to split time between the leagues.
“Rev sharing is truly transformational,” Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum told reporters. “We want a piece of the entire pie. Not a piece of part of the pie. We’re a resilient group. We know the unity it takes to be able to get the outcome desired.”
–Field Level Media
