Some college female athletes are delaying their pro careers. Thank NIL

The acceptance of NIL has already fundamentally changed college sports. Profoundly so for female athletes.

The idea that college athletes could profit from their name, image and likeness became reality nearly two years ago — and female athletes were quickly viewed as early winners. Investing in female athletes, the college sports world learned, was good business.

NIL’s impact is being realized, with basketball a prime example of how some sports have evolved. Basketball has consistently ranked as the most profitable women’s sport through the lens of NIL.

In October, women’s basketball ranked third highest among NIL compensated sports, according to the NIL technology company and marketplace Opendorse, per CNBC. An estimated 12.6% of NIL compensation went to women’s basketball, behind men’s basketball (18.9%) and football (49.6%).

When the NCAA adopted its NIL policy in June of 2021, experts predicted opportunities for women in the marketplace to grow. They were right.

This past college basketball season, women’s basketball NIL deals grew by 186% compared to the year prior, according to a recent report by SponsorUnited that analyzed data from October 1, 2022, through March 1. Meanwhile, men’s basketball increased by 67% this past season.

NIL success has athletes delaying careers

The promising state of NIL in college women’s basketball has sparked the conversation of athletes delaying their pro careers. In college, some athletes have the potential to earn more than they’d earn on a WNBA salary alone. The NIL potential, coupled with the perks of a top college program, can lure an athlete to stay.

In an interview with The New York Times, UCLA Coach Cori Close referenced tough conversations she's had with athletes about life after college basketball. Close described one unnamed WNBA coach's frank response about what life in the league would be like for UCLA guard Charisma Osborne, who chose to forgo the 2023 WNBA Draft after initially declaring for it.

“Does Charisma want to make more money and stay in college and get massages, fly charter, have everything paid for, have a nutritionist and have her own trainers that are paid for?” Close told The Times, quoting the coach. “Or does she want to have none of those things and fly Southwest with us?”

Athletes who choose to cut short their collegiate eligibility short are also not guaranteed a spot in the WNBA. The league is in desperate need of expansion, with some of the sports’ top talent finding it hard to secure a spot on the league’s limited rosters — including, at times, top draft picks.

But it’s not just the biggest names in women’s sports profiting from NIL.

This past fall, eight Scarlet Knights were invited to partner with a nonprofit real-estate company, New Brunswick Development Corporation, on an NIL deal in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Each athlete received $1,000 to be part of a photo shoot and video interview.

Carly Snarski, then a senior field hockey player from Randolph, told The Daily Record’s Jane Havsy: "I didn't realize how special we are as student-athletes, and the value we have. That was kind of neat, just that I'm worth the money that they gave me. ... It's definitely a new thing, but it's empowering as female student-athletes that we can do things like this. People want to work with us.”

Gray area, lack of rules can lead to inequities

The brave new world of NIL, though, as critics were quick to note, lacks structure and rules. That makes room for a lot of gray area. That gray area could lead to inequities.

According to Front Office Sports, NIL collectives have largely failed women athletes by failing to proportionately invest in them. Citing data from Opendorse, the outlet found that only 34% of existing collectives offered compensation to women’s sports athletes so far. Collectives account for almost 50% of total NIL compensation.

These inequities could be a result of the lack of oversight. They also show a promising opportunity for NIL, which can continue to evolve in ways that keep growing opportunities for women’s sports.

Women & Sport is a NorthJersey.com column devoted to female athletes from the rec league level to those in college and the pros. If you've got a tip on an athlete from North Jersey who should be noted in the column, no matter how young they are or how old, please drop me a line at anzidei@northjersey.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NIL in women's sports: Female college athletes delaying careers