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Today’s Case

Caitlin Clark signs two additional NIL deals ahead of her concluding college career

Although college basketball is generally not an international sport, it makes sense to talk about the greatest women’s college basketball player in today’s game in honor of International Women’s Day.

The Iowa star signed a multi-year endorsement deal with the Indiana-based company Gainbridge as a brand ambassador. Additionally, the insurance company is rolling out ParityFlex, a multi-year guaranteed annuity product created for women.

Clark: “I am honored to be part of the company’s deepening commitment to advancing opportunities for women, on and off the court, like this visionary new product for women. Women of all ages need to think about their long-term financial goals. The ParityFlex product is designed to allow women to begin building their financial future now.”

She has also signed a multi-year, exclusive endorsement deal with Panini America, becoming the first female athlete to ink an exclusive trading card and memorabilia contract with the company.

Panini plans to release a collection of multiple cards celebrating different points of Clark’s career, including her first Panini Instant Card which will capture the moment she passed Kelsey Plum to become the leading scorer in women’s college basketball. The company also has plans to release a “dedicated Caitlin Clark trading card product” that will be available for pre-order in early April.

The Verdict

• Future proofing her NIL at the next level

  • As I’ve discussed this previously, Caitlin is doing a phenomenal job of signing national partnerships that will carry over with her to the WNBA.

    • While local level NIL deals hold great value for most athletes, a player of Clark’s stature can definitely tap into a larger demographic on a broader scale, as referenced by her deals with Gatorade and State Farm, among other sizable companies.

• Gainbridge is a nice tie-in to Indiana Fever

  • Unless something goes haywire in the next few weeks, Clark is expected to be the #1 draft pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she will be selected by the Indiana Fever.

  • Since Gainbridge is an Indiana-based company, she is already building a footprint with local fans and companies headquartered in the state, showing her commitment to the Hoosier State and the city of Indianapolis.

• How many more deals to sign between now and the conclusion of March Madness?

  • Just when you think there are no additional major partnerships for her to sign, we may be surprised over the next few weeks throughout March Madness.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart signs a private jet NIL deal!

Oxford, Mississippi based Nicholas Air is providing Dart access to its fleet for training, travel and philanthropy. Check out this video for more!

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^{I discuss insights and news related to name, image and likeness in 3 minutes or less every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12p ET/9a PT.}

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