Daily Digest: Athletes’ Names Hit Nike Jerseys

Nike's NIL retail jersey launch, Grand Sierra's strategic partnership with Nevada basketball, and President Biden's White House meet-up talks Name, Image, and Likeness

Author

Jack M
November 10, 2023

Nike Debuts Retail Jerseys with College Stars' Names

  • Historic Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods Partnership: Featuring jerseys with the names of active players like Bronny James and rising women's college basketball stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Juju Watkins at $90 each, available through Dick’s Sporting Goods online and in retail stores nationwide.

  • This retail move is groundbreaking due to the NCAA’s past restrictions on player name usage, now allowing athletes like Clark, who partnered with Nike in 2022, to earn from jersey sales under the revised Name, Image, and Likeness rules.

Grand Sierra & Nevada Women's Basketball NIL Partnership

  • The Grand Sierra Resort has announced an NIL partnership with the Nevada women's basketball program that fosters athlete brand monetization and strengthens community relationships through the "Friends of the Pack" collective, as the new basketball season commences.

  • Financials are undisclosed, but the collaboration is positioned to advance community unity and seed further partnerships

  • In an effort to spotlight the athletes and program, GSR plans to produce and disseminate promotional content, which aims to extend program visibility while also imbuing the region's market with a stronger presence of the Wolf Pack women's basketball.

UTSA & INFLCR Usher in the Runners Go Bold Exchange

  • UTSA Athletics collaborates with INFLCR to launch the Runners Go Bold Exchange, a NIL platform aimed at connecting student-athletes with business opportunities for endorsements and partnerships, enhancing their market presence and financial prospects.

  • The exchange offers a searchable athlete database for registered businesses, facilitating direct contact and negotiations with UTSA student-athletes in compliance with Texas law and UTSA NIL protocols, bolstering engagement in brand-focused activities.

  • Benefits of the Runners Go Bold Exchange include a secure payment system, educational resources on NIL and financial literacy, plus analytic tools for athletes to optimize their digital influence, demonstrating UTSA's commitment to maximizing their student-athletes' NIL value.

Biden's White House Meeting on Athlete Safety and Fair Treatment

  • President Joe Biden engaged with former college athletes and advocates at the White House to discuss safety standards and the "fair treatment" of college athletes, including long-term health care for sport-related injuries and the potential for athletes to unionize.

  • Key topics in the candid discussion encompassed players' rights to their Name Image Likeness (NIL) revenue and Title IX issues, with Biden expressing support for athletes having a voice both on and off the field.

  • Notable attendees included prominent figures like Andrew Luck, Rod Gilmore, and Desmond Howard, who exchanged personal experiences and ideas, with some initiatives being suggested for addressing current challenges faced by student-athletes.