Caitlin Clark has it all, well, almost. She is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history and may be the greatest basketball player of all time. But she ranks a bit lower on the list of the highest earners in college sports. College athletes now have the freedom to sign endorsement deals using their name, image, or likeness, called NIL deals. Clark is one of the highest paid college athletes in the country, in any sport.
Name | University | Sport | Amount |
Bronny James | University of Southern California | Basketball | $4.9 million |
Shedeur Sanders | University of Colorado | Football | $4.7 million |
Livvy Dunne | Louisiana State University | Gymnastics | $3.6 million |
Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa | Basketball | $3.1 million |
Arch Manning | University of Texas | Football | $2.8 million |
Source: as.com |
Caitlin Clark Moves to the Next Level
Clark should be the number one pick in the WNBA draft next month. She is skipping her final year of eligibility at Iowa to turn pro; and get this, she will only earn $76,535 as a top four pick. She has signed sponsorship deals with at least 11 companies including State Farm, Nike, Gatorade, Buick, and H&R Block. Seems to fit perfectly because the WNBA draft will be held on Tax Day, April 15th.
NIL Deals Are Still New for College Athletes
Name, Image, and Likeness deals have only been available to college athletes for three years. The fight for them started with UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon. In 2009 he sued the NCAA after he saw himself portrayed in a video game. He wanted to be paid for that. His suit eventually led to a 2021 Supreme Court decision (NCAA v. Alston). The court ruled the NCAA rule limiting students’ compensation violated antitrust law. Later that year, the NCAA voted to change its rules, allowing student athletes to earn money from endorsements.
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Bradley Tachco is a career journalist. I spent 12+ years at CNN as a writer and producer. My sports: NHL, MLB, NFL, My goal: unique content, My teams are the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills (yes I’m a masochist), and the Los Angeles Dodgers. I have been a Dodgers fan since I was old enough to think. I have gone through decades of despair with all three franchises. You can follow Bradley at X (Twitter)