Paige signs NIL deal with Bose

[sun]

Have you considered the risk of a career ending injury by staying at UConn for a 5th year ? I'm sure she and her advisers have. Her marketing value and basketball talent have already been established .

Paige may possibly lack proven durability.
A sponsor would want a star that can stay on the court and play the game for multiple seasons without severe injuries.
It's not only about what Paige wants, but about what the corporate sponsor wants and expects for their long term investment.
If Paige becomes more irrelevant due to injuries, that won't help her superstar status at all and can detract from her marketability.
Azzi is in a similar boat with her foot problem which so far hasn't had anywhere near as severe an impact.
But I'll bet that potential sponsors are watching and evaluating her health issues too.
Don't forget that elite athletes have injury insurance to protect their future earnings potential should they become injured in the NCAA before being drafted into the pros.
Paige and Azzi proabably have that coverage even though it's quite expensive.
They also may need to prove that they have among the highest draft values to be worthy of true superstar status.
I doubt that anything is automatic until the contract is signed because stuff can happen that can change the big picture.
The value of some top athletes have fallen before due to a late season injury which affected them being drafted.

 

[JimGunther]

I'm confused (my typical state). Doesn't Page actually have 3 years of eligibility left?
I mean, didn't they throw the Covid year out?