About a month ago, ESPN had an article on college basketball’s twenty-five most marketable players. The list is an interesting one with eleven females and with a significant number either having never played a college game, like Azzi Fudd, or with just one season on their belts.
With regard to the women, eight are nationally known players and three are internet/media stars, although good players, Hanna and Haley Cavender of Fresno State (ranked #3), Casey Ferguson of South Alabama (10), and Jaden Ownes of Baylor (17). The others are Paige Bueckers (#1), Hailey Van Lith (5), Sedona Prince (6), Azzi Fudd (12), Haley Jones (14), Aliyah Boston (15), Caitlin Clark (16), and Zia Cooke (22). At this early NIL stage and without considering college athletes in other sports (imagine the marketability of the Alabama quarterback?), what can we postulate as to reasons. Paige Bueckers is at the top of the list and the reasons are quite clear and they are likely similar for others on the list - she is an outstanding athlete, has personality and swagger, and she photographs well. An additional factor is that she plays on a national stage like no other in women’s basketball. We all know all the publicity that high schooler Azzi Fudd (12) has achieved, yet it is doubtful that she would have ranked so high had she attended, say, Indiana or Tennessee. Caitlin Clark is listed 16th. She is just as good a player as Bueckers, but, how many times have we seen Iowa on national TV? Hopefully a good deal more this upcoming season.
The possibility for wealth is likely going to be limited to just a handful, and one wonders what effect such may have on the game itself and interpersonal team relationships. How might NIL effect recruiting? Coaches have a number of ways of sell their programs, but new ones now emerge. You will be playing on a national stage and/or you will be playing in a top media market. Our university has X and Y who have made hundreds of thousands and we can help you, too. Our school is noted for its marketing of our program and we can do the same for you, and so on. Then there is the question of playing for time on Sports Center. The spectacular dunk, unbelievable no look pass, not to mention game winning shots are staples, but may not athletes think even more about themselves with a lot of $ on the line? Women’s basketball has always been known as a team sport and that is the beauty of it. Will this change? How will 18 and 19 year olds react to acclaim for a single person on the squad when they get little or none? Will decisions be made more with a regard to marketing than the good of the team?
What other Huskies, if any, could achieve fame and fortune? Olivia Nelson Odoba, Nika Mühl, Aaliyah Edwards?
We are entering uncharted waters (and this does not even consider the influence of wide ranging sports betting). Let’s hope for the best, that our Huskies will continue to prosper and play the team game that we have loved for so long.
With regard to the women, eight are nationally known players and three are internet/media stars, although good players, Hanna and Haley Cavender of Fresno State (ranked #3), Casey Ferguson of South Alabama (10), and Jaden Ownes of Baylor (17). The others are Paige Bueckers (#1), Hailey Van Lith (5), Sedona Prince (6), Azzi Fudd (12), Haley Jones (14), Aliyah Boston (15), Caitlin Clark (16), and Zia Cooke (22). At this early NIL stage and without considering college athletes in other sports (imagine the marketability of the Alabama quarterback?), what can we postulate as to reasons. Paige Bueckers is at the top of the list and the reasons are quite clear and they are likely similar for others on the list - she is an outstanding athlete, has personality and swagger, and she photographs well. An additional factor is that she plays on a national stage like no other in women’s basketball. We all know all the publicity that high schooler Azzi Fudd (12) has achieved, yet it is doubtful that she would have ranked so high had she attended, say, Indiana or Tennessee. Caitlin Clark is listed 16th. She is just as good a player as Bueckers, but, how many times have we seen Iowa on national TV? Hopefully a good deal more this upcoming season.
The possibility for wealth is likely going to be limited to just a handful, and one wonders what effect such may have on the game itself and interpersonal team relationships. How might NIL effect recruiting? Coaches have a number of ways of sell their programs, but new ones now emerge. You will be playing on a national stage and/or you will be playing in a top media market. Our university has X and Y who have made hundreds of thousands and we can help you, too. Our school is noted for its marketing of our program and we can do the same for you, and so on. Then there is the question of playing for time on Sports Center. The spectacular dunk, unbelievable no look pass, not to mention game winning shots are staples, but may not athletes think even more about themselves with a lot of $ on the line? Women’s basketball has always been known as a team sport and that is the beauty of it. Will this change? How will 18 and 19 year olds react to acclaim for a single person on the squad when they get little or none? Will decisions be made more with a regard to marketing than the good of the team?
What other Huskies, if any, could achieve fame and fortune? Olivia Nelson Odoba, Nika Mühl, Aaliyah Edwards?
We are entering uncharted waters (and this does not even consider the influence of wide ranging sports betting). Let’s hope for the best, that our Huskies will continue to prosper and play the team game that we have loved for so long.
