Top women’s stars expect to keep NIL deals beyond college

Only a few short years ago, there was no inkling that college basketball players could be millionaires or at least be able to consider staying in school because they could earn enough money to make it worth their while even with pro contracts available.

It was a particularly acute question for female athletes, since pro deals for them are less lucrative on the whole and there are fewer professional leagues available.

The games — and the market — have changed all that in a dramatic way.

Women’s basketball is one of the hottest tickets in college sports, a popularity driven in part by players like Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Angel Reese of LSU. Their name, image and likeness (NIL) valuations are some of the highest in the nation; Clark’s is just over $3 million while Reese is at $1.8 million, according to On3.com.