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Memphis transfer guard PJ Haggerty has committed to Kansas State men’s basketball, giving the Wildcats an All-American scoring threat and proven backcourt leader. Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 junior-to-be, was one of the most productive guards in the country last season. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 1 available player in the transfer portal, the No. […]


Memphis transfer guard PJ Haggerty has committed to Kansas State men’s basketball, giving the Wildcats an All-American scoring threat and proven backcourt leader.
Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 junior-to-be, was one of the most productive guards in the country last season. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 1 available player in the transfer portal, the No. 2 overall, and the top-ranked guard.
He averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for Memphis, earning American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors and a spot on the consensus All-America Second Team.
NIL
SEC rival head coach ranked above Kirby Smart in ESPN’s active head coach rankings
Every college football fan agrees that Kirby Smart is the best active head coach in all of college football right? Think again, because ESPN’s Bill Connelly just ranked two coaches ahead of Smart entering the 2025 season. Kirby Smart ranked 3rd best head coach in college football So who could possibly have been ranked above […]

Every college football fan agrees that Kirby Smart is the best active head coach in all of college football right? Think again, because ESPN’s Bill Connelly just ranked two coaches ahead of Smart entering the 2025 season.
Kirby Smart ranked 3rd best head coach in college football
So who could possibly have been ranked above Smart entering the 2025 season? Coming in at No. 1 is Ohio State head coach Ryan Day who is coming off his first National Championship with the Buckeyes. While there is a decent argument to put Day on the same level as Smart, it does seem strange to put him at No. 1 after watching he and Ohio State lose to their rival Michigan four straight years now.
Day being above Smart however isn’t the biggest problem because at No. 2 in these rankings is Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. Huepel has been at Tennessee for four years now and has lost to Georgia by at least 14 points each of these four seasons. On top of that, Georgia has won two National Championships and two SEC titles during the past four years as well, so putting Heupel above Smart makes no sense.
There is no denying that Heupel isn’t a good head coach. He had a good tenure at UCF and has now led the Vols to a solid 37-15 record as their head coach, but his failure to get over the hump even once should automatically disqualify Heupel from being above Smart.
This is just another example of the media giving Georgia a lot of motivation entering the 2025 season. Not only does Smart now have a reason to work harder than he ever has before, but so too does Georgia’s entire team after the SEC media voted rival Texas as the favorite to win the SEC.
Thankfully the season begins in a little over a month, because Georgia once again has a lot of people they need to prove wrong this season.
NIL
Unrivaled Continues To Put WNBA On Notice, Signs 14 College Hoopers To NIL Deals
As WNBA players fight for better pay and revenue share, 3-on-3 league Unrivaled is handing out six-figure salaries, NIL deals for college stars, and elite off-court perks. PublishedJuly 19, 2025 4:23 PM EDT•UpdatedJuly 19, 2025 4:23 PM EDT Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link INDIANAPOLIS — It’s truly a tale of two leagues at WNBA All-Star […]

As WNBA players fight for better pay and revenue share, 3-on-3 league Unrivaled is handing out six-figure salaries, NIL deals for college stars, and elite off-court perks.
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s truly a tale of two leagues at WNBA All-Star Weekend. While the players’ union is fighting with the WNBA over salaries and revenue share, the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league is pouring money into its players.
During a pop-up event in Indianapolis on Saturday, Unrivaled announced it had signed 14 NCAA women’s players to NIL deals. Those players include: UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts and Kiki Rice; Texas’ Madison Booker; Iowa State’s Audi Crooks; UConn’s Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong; LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley; Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo; LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson; South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson; TCU’s Olivia Miles; Michigan’s Syla Swords; and USC’s JuJu Watkins.
“Investing in elite women’s basketball talent is central to Unrivaled’s mission,” the league said in a statement. “This transformational, first-of-its-kind initiative brings together the best of the best and reflects our deep commitment to elevating the women’s game and holistically supporting athletes.”
Co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled played its inaugural season in the spring of 2025. The league aims to give players an alternative option to going overseas during the offseason. It pays better and provides players more off-the-court resources than they get in the WNBA.
For its first season, Unrivaled secured $35 million from a laundry list of investors that included celebrity names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Phelps, Dawn Staley, Coco Gauff, Alex Morgan, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, along with several others.
Incredibly, the league nearly broke even — and it did so without superstar Caitlin Clark.
Unrivaled banked more than $27 million in revenue in its first year, according to a league source. The money was largely from a lucrative media deal with TNT, plus a roster of big-time corporate sponsors — like Ally Financial, Samsung Galaxy, Sephora and Miller Lite, just to name a few.

The success of 3-on-3 league Unrivaled in its inaugural season puts pressure on the WNBA to meet player demands.
(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Image)
Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawler says Unrivaled could likely turn a profit as early as next year — something the WNBA has never done in its 28 seasons in existence.
The league says these 14 NIL players will participate in a multi-day summit from July 31 to August 2 called “The Future is Unrivaled,” where they will have basketball development sessions and also shoot content for the league.
Implications For The WNBA Amid Ongoing CBA Talks
The timing of these NIL deals is no coincidence. The WNBA players’ association (WNBPA) is currently embroiled in labor talks with the WNBA over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current CBA, of which the players opted out last fall, expires in October. So the clock is ticking.
Atop the players’ list of demands are higher salaries and a larger revenue share. And during negotiations in Indianapolis this weekend, the players made it abundantly clear they aren’t budging on either.
MORE FROM INDY: As CBA Deadline Looms, WNBA Players Dig In, Send Clear Message At All-Star Weekend
During its inaugural season, each of Unrivaled’s 36 players earned a six-figure salary for the eight-week season, with an average salary of $222,222. That’s higher than the WNBA’s regular max contract of $214,466 for 2025.
And it looks like those numbers are only going to get larger. Earlier this year, the WNBA’s 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled. The 23-year-old will make $350,000 in her first season with the 3-on-3 league.
To put that in perspective, Bueckers’ contract with the Dallas Wings will only pay her $78,831 in her rookie year and $348,198 over four years, according to Front Office Sports.

The new CBA is a hot-button topic at WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
(Amber Harding Snyder)
In addition to competitive player salaries, Unrivaled has put together a state-of-the-art facility in Miami, full of luxury amenities for its athletes to enjoy. The facility features a practice court, a fully outfitted weight room and a recovery room with saunas and hot and cold tubs. Each team has its own locker room. A massage therapist and chef are also on site to cater to athletes’ needs.
Of course, these perks aren’t unheard of for a professional sports league. But Unrivaled threw in some extra touches, too, like a social media content creation studio and a “glam room” sponsored by Sephora.
“They literally are laying out the red carpet,” Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams said in January. “We have everything available to become the best versions [of ourselves], the best basketball players we could be.”
Unrivaled has certainly shown that it’s not afraid to invest in its players, and, apparently, the investment is paying off. Now, players fully expect the WNBA to follow suit.
NIL
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson inks NIL deal with pro league Unrivaled
Electric LSU women’s basketball guard Flau’jae Johnson is among the 14 college stars who have signed an NIL deal with pro women’s league Unrivaled, the league announced Saturday. Also signing a deal is guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred to LSU this offseason after two seasons with rival South Carolina. Unrivaled, founded in 2023, is a […]

Electric LSU women’s basketball guard Flau’jae Johnson is among the 14 college stars who have signed an NIL deal with pro women’s league Unrivaled, the league announced Saturday.
Also signing a deal is guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred to LSU this offseason after two seasons with rival South Carolina.
Unrivaled, founded in 2023, is a three-on-three women’s basketball league with six teams. Its season takes place during the WNBA offseason and offers an alternative to playing overseas, which many WNBA stars do once their season ends.
Now the league is investing in college basketball’s current stars with NIL deals. Johnson is renewing her deal with Unrivaled after signing one in December. Unlike her previous contract, she won’t have an ownership stake in the league, according to ESPN.
USC’s JuJu Watkins, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Sienna Betts, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UConn’s Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, TCU’s Olivia Miles, Texas’ Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson and Michigan’s Syla Swords have also signed deals with Unrivaled.
Johnson averaged 18.6 points per game in her junior season and decided not to enter the WNBA Draft. She’ll come back to Baton Rouge looking to win her second championship with the program.
Since entering college, Johnson has been one of the sport’s most valuable commodities in the NIL sphere. That’s due not only to her standout personality and skills on the court, but also because of her work as a rapper.
NIL
USC Trojans’ Lincoln Riley Buying Time With NIL?
USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season. In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the […]

USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season.
In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the team did earn and win a bowl game, it was Riley’s worst season with USC. Only winning four conference matchups and going on a three-game losing streak was not a good look for Riley, leading to the belief that he is on the hot seat.
There is a growing belief that if the Trojans do not turn things around in 2025, this could be it for Riley. The Herd host Colin Cowherd spoke to Fox Sports analyst and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer about how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is affecting college football. During the discussion, Cowherd explained how NIL will protect Riley’s job for a little while longer.
“You spend so much time raising the money to pay the players, you can’t buy out the coaches anymore,” Cowherd said. “Lincoln Riley, I know the number; he’s not going anywhere. There’s no way. They just spent $300 million on facilities. $18 million on NIL. He’s got an $80 million buyout. So I think NIL protects the staff. You probably get a year or two more than you used to.”
Riley’s buyout with USC was already a concern, but to add how much the school is spending on NIL, it makes it harder for the program to justify letting go of their current coach. Firing Riley could hurt the school financially more than it could help the program.
MORE: Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans Recruiting Class Sends Shockwaves in California
MORE: USC Trojans At Risk Of Losing A 5-Star Recruit To Ohio State Buckeyes?
MORE: Bronny James Turns Heads In NBA Summer League Despite Lakers Loss To Boston Celtics
MORE: What Kirk Herbstreit Said About USC Trojans Success: ‘Good For The Sport’
The USC Trojans football program will have a new facility set to open in 2026. This is a major investment being made in the team, and one of the reasons Riley took the USC job. With the money going into the new facilities, it is hard to imagine the program also would spend the money to let go of Riley.
Riley and the Trojans have become one of the most successful programs to utilize NIL with recruiting. USC’s class of 2026 is ranked No. 1 in the nation and features 31 commits. 55 percent are in-state recruits, showing the Trojans’ much-needed emphasis on recruiting. The recruitment has provided hope for the future of the program, and in part is due to NIL deals.
One of the reasons USC can bring in such a talented class is through NIL deals. Four-star edge Luke Wafle committed to the Trojans over the Ohio State Buckeyes through a reported bidding war. Ohio State made a late push by boosting their offer to Wafle, but the four-star recruit ended up choosing USC.
The Trojans are building an elite team and investing in them, which lessens the chances of the program letting go of Riley before the class joins the team. The incoming recruits are excited about what Riley and the team are building, and avoiding potential flips before the players sign will be crucial.
While the program may not want to spend the money on Riley’s buyout, that does not mean the coach is under any less pressure. While Riley’s job may be safe for the next year or two, USC must start turning things around, winning more in-conference games, and making a college football playoff push.
The USC Trojans will kick off the 2025 college football season on Aug. 29 against the Missouri State Bears.
NIL
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson inks NIL deal with pro league Unrivaled
Electric LSU women’s basketball guard Flau’jae Johnson is among the 14 college stars who have signed an NIL deal with pro women’s league Unrivaled, the league announced Saturday. Also signing a deal is guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred to LSU this offseason after two seasons with rival South Carolina. Unrivaled, founded in 2023, is a […]

Electric LSU women’s basketball guard Flau’jae Johnson is among the 14 college stars who have signed an NIL deal with pro women’s league Unrivaled, the league announced Saturday.
Also signing a deal is guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred to LSU this offseason after two seasons with rival South Carolina.
Unrivaled, founded in 2023, is a three-on-three women’s basketball league with six teams. Its season takes place during the WNBA offseason and offers an alternative to playing overseas, which many WNBA stars do once their season ends.
Now the league is investing in college basketball’s current stars with NIL deals. Johnson is renewing her deal with Unrivaled after signing one in December. Unlike her previous contract, she won’t have an ownership stake in the league, according to ESPN.
USC’s JuJu Watkins, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Sienna Betts, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UConn’s Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, TCU’s Olivia Miles, Texas’ Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson and Michigan’s Syla Swords have also signed deals with Unrivaled.
Johnson averaged 18.6 points per game in her junior season and decided not to enter the WNBA Draft. She’ll come back to Baton Rouge looking to win her second championship with the program.
Since entering college, Johnson has been one of the sport’s most valuable commodities in the NIL sphere. That’s due not only to her standout personality and skills on the court, but also because of her work as a rapper.
NIL
USC’s JuJu Watkins headlines 13 new Unrivaled NIL signings
INDIANAPOLIS — Unrivaled announced 13 new NIL deal signings, headlined by USC’s JuJu Watkins, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and UConn’s Azzi Fudd. Sarah Strong (UConn), Olivia Miles (TCU), Madison Booker (Texas), Kiki Rice (UCLA), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Syla Swords (Michigan), and Sienna Betts (UCLA) […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Unrivaled announced 13 new NIL deal signings, headlined by USC’s JuJu Watkins, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and UConn’s Azzi Fudd.
Sarah Strong (UConn), Olivia Miles (TCU), Madison Booker (Texas), Kiki Rice (UCLA), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Syla Swords (Michigan), and Sienna Betts (UCLA) are also signing NIL deals with the three-on-three league.
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson is also continuing her partnership with Unrivaled with a new NIL deal, after inking a first one back in December. Unlike her last partnership, this one will not include equity in the league.
“Unrivaled was lit,” Johnson said. “When I watched the first game I was like, this is real. It was super professional and catered to the athletes.
“It’s going to get more and more active more and more competitive. I don’t know what’s happening in the back, but I think there’s just going to be more incentive to turn up.”
This group combines for 32 NCAA tournament appearances, 25 Sweet 16 appearances, 14 Elite Eight appearances, 10 Final Four appearances, and 4 national championships.
Last season, Watkins was named the Naismith Player of the Year and Big 10 Player of the Year, and Betts was the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Strong was the Big East Freshman of the Year, while Booker was the SEC Player of the Year and Hidalgo won ACC Player of the Year.
These signings build off of NIL partnerships with 2025 WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers and Johnson. Watkins was also already involved with Unrivaled through her investment in the league as part of its Series A funding last December.
“Investing in elite women’s basketball talent is central to Unrivaled’s mission,” Unrivaled president of basketball operations Luke Cooper said. “This transformational, first-of-its-kind initiative brings together the best of the best and reflects our deep commitment to elevating the women’s game and holistically supporting athletes.”
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