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Today’s Case

Iowa basketball’s Caitlin Clark signs NIL deal with Gatorade

Caitlin Clark just landed another big NIL partnership.

The Iowa women's basketball star recently signed a deal with Gatorade, making her the second women's basketball player (joining UConn guard Paige Bueckers) and fourth collegiate athlete (alongside Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Penn State running back Nick Singleton) to join the brand.

In addition to Clark appearing in social media advertisements for the company, Gatorade's partnership with Clark includes a new video titled “You Can Too,” aimed at inspiring future basketball players. The company also plans to donate $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation, a nod to Clark's jersey number.

Clark: “I am fortunate to be part of the first generation of collegiate athletes who are not only able to contribute to the legacy of our colleges and universities, but also start to build something of our own off the court. Working with a brand like Gatorade is really a dream come true, but NIL is about more than just endorsements and partnerships. Athletes are learning about entire industries, how they work, and how we might be able to pursue other passions while we are playing and after our playing careers are over.”

The Verdict

• Leveling up NIL in a big way

  • As Clark continues to excel on the court, her brand off the court is reflecting as such.

    • Her NIL portfolio includes a slew of major companies, including State Farm, Buick and Goldman Sachs, among others.

  • She recently signed with Excel Sports Management for NIL representation, and they have been doing great work of securing notable partnerships for her.

• Charity aspect + extended partnership

  • Not only loving the “You Can Too” video, but the $22,000 donation to her foundation is amazing.

    • From the website, the Foundation improves the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sport. (Three pillars Caitlin believes were foundational in her success.) This NIL money can go towards programming for these initiatives.

  • While details were not disclosed, thinking this will be a multi-year partnership as she continues her college career and begins per professional basketball career. (Who knows - maybe Caitlin will get her own Gatorade flavor.)

• What’s next for Caitlin’s NIL portfolio?

  • Caitlin pretty much has a dream roster of NIL deals. So what companies will be next?

    • I could see an organization giving her a “lifetime NIL deal” in terms of equity and decision-making authority, as well as perhaps Caitlin starting her own company. (Merchandise, training camps, etc.)

Student-athletes: Use LinkedIn!

The platform has numerous benefits for you and should be used regularly. Watch this video for three of my favorite reasons!

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