Paige Bueckers signs unique deal with Unrivaled, owning stake in women's basketball league

From CNBC: 2024-08-01 12:46:26

Paige Bueckers signs a unique deal with new women’s basketball league Unrivaled, becoming the first NCAA athlete to have ownership stake in a professional sports league. The league was founded last year by WNBA players and aims to provide more endorsement opportunities for college athletes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Unrivaled, which will kick off in January, offers equity stakes to all 30 players and guarantees six-figure salaries. The league was created to allow WNBA players to stay in the U.S. during the offseason instead of playing overseas. This is a game-changer for women’s basketball and has attracted a star-studded list of investors.

Current WNBA stars like Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray have already joined the league, along with incoming rookies like Angel Reese. The player-owned league will consist of six teams playing full-court 3 on 3 games. Notable investors in the league include UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, Carmelo Anthony, Alex Morgan, and Ashton Kutcher.

Paige Bueckers, known for her success at UConn and decision to skip the 2024 WNBA Draft, will play a key role in promoting Unrivaled but will wait until finishing her college career to officially participate. The partnership with Bueckers represents a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of collegiate athlete endorsements and professional sports opportunities.



Read more at CNBC: Paige Bueckers to sign NIL deal with Unrivaled, get equity state