Unrivaled Announces NIL Deals With College Stars JuJu Watkins, Azzi Fudd, More

JuJu Watkins, Flau’Jae Johnson and Azzi Fudd are three of 14 top women’s college basketball players that Unrivaled is signing to name, image and likeness deals, the league announced Saturday.

It’s the second consecutive year that the 3-on-3 league that was founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart has had NIL with college players. In its inaugural season, Unrivaled had deals with Paige Bueckers and Johnson.

Watkins, who plays for USC but is sidelined with an ACL injury, has also previously been involved with Unrivaled as an investor in its Series A funding round.

Johnson, who is at LSU, and Fudd, at UConn, both were on hand for the announcement, as were Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and UConn’s Sarah Strong.

Other players signed include TCU’s Olivia Miles, UCLA’s Kiki Rice and Lauren and Sienna Betts, Texas’ Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson and Michigan’s Syla Swords. The players range from sophomores to seniors.

Women’s basketball players have been able to take advantage of NIL opportunities over the last few years with Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Bueckers and Johnson at the forefront of it. Reese played in Unrivaled in its first season.

[MORE: Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Players with the Highest NIL Valuations]

As part of the initiative, the class will take part in a multi -day event at the league headquarters in Miami, which includes the development of skills and content.

“This transformative initiative, which held the best of the ISSach, combines the best of the best and reflects our deep commitment to increasing the women’s game and the healistically supportive athletes,” said Luke Cooper, President of Basketball Operations at Uncivaled, in the announcement of the initiative. “In the investment in the elite basketball talent, women are of central importance for the mission of The Univilled.”

Unweeded to complete its opening season last March and prepares for the second in January.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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