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Paige Bueckers reflects on NIL journey, building brand from ‘blank canvas’

Before the NIL era officially started, “Paige Buckets” took college basketball by storm. Paige Bueckers put together a standout freshman season at UConn as she won National Player of the Year and became a unanimous first team All-American. July 1, 2021 – ahead of Bueckers’ sophomore year – the NIL era began. That meant players […]

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Before the NIL era officially started, “Paige Buckets” took college basketball by storm. Paige Bueckers put together a standout freshman season at UConn as she won National Player of the Year and became a unanimous first team All-American.

July 1, 2021 – ahead of Bueckers’ sophomore year – the NIL era began. That meant players were able to profit off their name, image and likeness for the first time. It proved to be quite an opportunity for Bueckers, whose highlights were making their way around social media quickly.

But she was like athletes across the country and had to quickly learn what it meant to navigate the space. In fact, despite her strong following, Bueckers said she build her brand from scratch.

“When I tell you I had no idea what this was going to look like, I had literally no idea,” Bueckers told Deja Kelly on NILOSOPHY. “It was a complete blank canvas. That’s why you just want to set the values up first. Whatever came from that, then, let’s do it. In commercials, partnered with Fortnite. The stuff I was able to do – like shoots, the creative side of it, the relationships I got to build, some really cool moments. … The stuff I’ve been able to do with my teammates and for my teammates, that’s been the coolest stuff to me, just to share that with them.

“Having a stylist, hair and makeup done. I’m just sitting there in a chair and everybody’s, like, tending to me. I’m like, this is nuts. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. All of it’s just been a whirlwind. I’m just extremely grateful for all of it.”

Paige Bueckers: ‘I set my values straight with my team’

On the court, Paige Bueckers overcame injury and eventually got her long-awaited national championship this past season at UConn. All told, she ended her career as a three-time first team All-American and a two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the nation’s top point guard. That helped her become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Bueckers also flourished in the NIL space. She ended her college career with a $1.5 million On3 NIL Valuation, which ranked No. 2 in the women’s basketball NIL rankings. She also made it a point to enter into deals that included her teammates, which was one of her big values as she entered the space. It was part of a special journey through the NIL world, and she came a long way from the day the new era began.

“Truly, I had no idea, especially the first day,” Bueckers said. “I knew name, image and likeness. That’s probably the only thing I knew. But even just talking with agents. What was an agent to me? Now, I know, and now I have much more knowledge around the topic. Once I started to learn about it – talk to more people, get their perspective on things, talk with an agent – it became, for me, how can I give back and use this platform on social media to do something good with it? You don’t even think about making money in college because it was never a thing.

“I set my values straight with my team. I just want to work with people who have the right intentions, have the right values of giving back and not making everything about me. Like, including my teammates on deals, trying to give my teammates stuff, as well. Just as much as you can, it’s going to be about you. You’re building your brand, you’re building your wealth, you’re building just who you are and getting that out there more. So as much as you can, trying to counteract that with the things that you can do within a partnership.”



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Urban Meyer names college football program to ‘watch out for’ this season

Last season, Penn State made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, but fell short against Notre Dame in the semifinals after wins over Boise State and SMU in the first two rounds. Despite losing multiple impact contributors to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions return multiple key players, making this program one of […]

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Last season, Penn State made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, but fell short against Notre Dame in the semifinals after wins over Boise State and SMU in the first two rounds.

Despite losing multiple impact contributors to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions return multiple key players, making this program one of the preseason favorites to make another run in the College Football Playoff.

During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer highlighted Penn State as one of his teams to watch for next season.

“Penn State is following the lead of the Wolverines and the Buckeyes,” Meyer said. “And that is, they have more seniors… Think about this, Colin. I never had the chance to coach fourth-year players. If I did, it was very rare. The difference between a fourth-year player and a rookie, or freshman, is night and day. You’re coaching grown-a** men. That’s a men’s locker room compared to a young person’s.”

Meyer highlighted the return of quarterback Drew Allar as one of the most important aspects of this team’s potential. He even went a step further, calling the Nittany Lions one of the most talented teams in the nation.

“Watch out for Penn State, man,” Meyer continued. “If Drew Allar can really improve as a quarterback, I agree with you, they’ve got the best backfield, I don’t think it’s close, in the country. They’ve got an offensive line that they can’t wait to get on the field. I think Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State are the most talented.”

Over the past two seasons, Allar has recorded 5,958 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns. He led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns in 2023, while ranking top five in the conference in passing yards both seasons. Allar’s success did not translate to the postseason as he failed to surpass 200 passing yards in all three CFP games.

Allar’s success has led to one of the highest NIL valuations in college football, ranking No. 8 nationally. He has the highest NIL valuation among Penn State players with a projected valuation of $3.1 million. Running back Nick Singleton also has a projected NIL value of $1.8 million, according to On3.

As Meyer noted, Penn State’s running back room will be one of the most talented in the nation. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen return after surpassing 1,000 rushing yards last season. The duo has combined for over 4,000 career rushing yards and has a chance to reset the record book with another big season.

Penn State opens the 2025 college football season on Aug. 30 against Nevada. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.





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Clemson football has the No. 1 player in 3 position groups in College Football 26

It’s a big day for video game lovers as EA Sports College Football 26 has made its early release, and Clemson football fans are especially excited because the Tigers are represented well. Clemson has one of the best teams in the game, rated in the top 10, but it also has some of the best […]

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It’s a big day for video game lovers as EA Sports College Football 26 has made its early release, and Clemson football fans are especially excited because the Tigers are represented well.

Clemson has one of the best teams in the game, rated in the top 10, but it also has some of the best overall players. Obviously if you’re one of the best teams, you’re going to have some elite players on the roster and EA Sports treated Clemson well with some of the ratings.

In fact, three different Tigers were rated the No. 1 overall players at their position in the game.

For starters, Cade Klubnik is rated the top quarterback in the game with a 92 overall rating. He is tied with Garrett Nussmeier as the top overall quarterback and he’s widely considered the best passer in the country heading into the 2025 season after passing for over 3,600 yards and 26 touchdowns last year with just six picks.

On the edge, TJ Parker is rated the top overall rusher. He had 57 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles, and he’s the best edge rusher in the new game.

Lastly, Peter Woods is rated the best defensive tackle in the game. This is, again, no surprise given the fact that he’s been talked about as the No. 1 overall NFL Draft prospect for 2026. He had 28 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in 2024 as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in college football.

Clemson has the best player at 30 percent of the position groups in College Football 26.



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NIL’s boundaries under scrutiny as basketball Hall of Famer sues Harlem Globetrotters

Basketball legend Lynette Woodard is suing the Harlem Globetrotters for misappropriation of her Name, Image and Likeness. Woodard rose to stardom at Kansas as a four-time All-American before becoming a two-time Olympian and the captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a gold medal. After a WNBA career and professional stints in Europe […]

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Basketball legend Lynette Woodard is suing the Harlem Globetrotters for misappropriation of her Name, Image and Likeness.

Woodard rose to stardom at Kansas as a four-time All-American before becoming a two-time Olympian and the captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a gold medal.

After a WNBA career and professional stints in Europe and Japan, she was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. Additionally, Woodard is a member of the National High School Hall of Fame, the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Legends Professional Hall of Fame, the State of Kansas Hall of Fame and the African American Hall of Fame.

In the midst of her legendary career, Woodard became a member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 1986. She became the first woman to ever play for a men’s professional basketball team and spent two years touring with the team.

According to a report from Sportico’s Michael McCann, Woodard’s suit against the Harlem Globetrotters includes 14 claims, one of which being the alleged misappropriation of her NIL in a clothing line.

Harlem Globetrotters partnered with streetwear brand UNDRCRWN in 2022 and released a Lynette fleece sweatsuit, which was “named in honor of Lynette Woodard … whose breakthrough participation made the Globetrotters the first co-ed professional team,” according to the report.

Woodard’s contract – according to her attorneys Michael L. Murphy, Elliott C. McGraw and Michael B. Clohisy – included a California choice of law provision, which indicates that California’s NIL legislation is in effect.

And by being a part of the collective bargaining agreement between the Globetrotters and United Basketball Players Association, Woodward maintains that she is owed royalties from Lynette fleece sweatsuit. The CBA states that when merchandising revenue exceeds $5,000 in one year, a player is owed 25% royalty rate of net merchandising revenue.

Woodard, 65, alleges that the Globetrotters “never sought” her consent, because they knew she “would not give it for free.”

She is seeking profits from the sale of the apparel line as well as damages, attorney’s fees and an injunction that would block what she terms further infringement, according to Sportico.



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Travis Kelce net worth, assets and endorsement deals

NFL star Travis Kelce has always been known for his strong performance on the football field. However, his popularity has grown even more since he started dating global music sensation Taylor Swift. Now, people are not only interested in his relationship with her but also in his wealth. One big question many people are asking […]

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Travis Kelce net worth, assets and endorsement deals

NFL star Travis Kelce has always been known for his strong performance on the football field. However, his popularity has grown even more since he started dating global music sensation Taylor Swift. Now, people are not only interested in his relationship with her but also in his wealth. One big question many people are asking in 2025, is Travis Kelce richer than Taylor Swift? Let’s take a look at his earnings and investments to find out.

Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs has an estimated net worth of around $90 million (about ₹751 crore).

NFL salary

Travis is among the highest paid NFL players. In April 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $34.25 million. Over his entire career in the NFL, he has earned close to $100 million.

There are reports that his current contract might end in 2025 but nothing has been confirmed.

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Brand endorsements

Travis makes around $5 million per year from brand partnerships. He works with well known companies like –

  • McDonald’s
  • Nike
  • Papa John’s
  • Bud Light
  • State Farm
  • Bud Light

Podcast earnings

Travis co-hosts a podcast with his brother Jason Kelce called New Heights. The show began in 2022 and quickly became popular.

In August 2024, both the brothers signed a three-year deal worth $100 million with Amazon’s Wondery to bring the podcast to their platform.

Real estate
Travis owns a large 10,000-square-foot home in Kansas City, Missouri, which he bought in 2019 for $995,000.

In 2023, he purchased another luxury home in a gated community in the same city for just under $6 million.

Even after all the NFL contracts and investments, he is still behind his girlfriend Taylor Swift in terms of net worth. Reports suggest that Taylor has a net worth of massive $1.5 billion, making her one of the richest entertainers in the world.

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Kansas Basketball Guard Makes Late Offseason Transfer Portal Entry

According to reports from On3, Kansas Jayhawks guard Noah Shelby is entering the NCAA transfer portal. NEW: Kansas guard Noah Shelby has entered the NCAA transfer portal, @PeteNakos_ reports. Shelby has made stops at Vanderbilt and Rice.https://t.co/EDWuhfuFZR pic.twitter.com/rZt7GHDEQW — Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) July 7, 2025 Although Bill Self had seemingly rounded out his squad, Shelby […]

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Kansas Basketball Guard Makes Late Offseason Transfer Portal Entry

According to reports from On3, Kansas Jayhawks guard Noah Shelby is entering the NCAA transfer portal.

Although Bill Self had seemingly rounded out his squad, Shelby unexpectedly departed from the program in the late transfer window.

A former 4-star recruit out of high school, Shelby began his collegiate career at Vanderbilt before transferring to Rice.

He was a walk-on redshirt during his first and only year in Lawrence, and his KU career ended before he could play a game in a crimson and blue uniform. The school was planning to elevate Shelby to a scholarship player this upcoming season.

While he never took the floor at KU, Shelby appeared in 30 games for Rice in the 2023-24 campaign. He averaged 3.9 points and 1.0 rebounds for the Owls on 35.1% field goal shooting. 

With transfers Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson and returning players Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell in the fold, the 6-foot-3 guard did not have a viable path to playing time despite his exceptional athleticism.

Incoming freshman Kohl Rosario’s commitment last month also could have influenced Shelby‘s decision.

Now that Shelby is out of the picture, Kansas has two remaining scholarships on the roster, though it remains unknown whether the program will fill them.

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Season and Single-Game Tickets Now Available for Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Mountaineer Ticket Office has announced season and single-game ticket information for the 2025 women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball home schedules.   Season tickets for all three programs are now available, offering Mountaineer fans an affordable and convenient way to support WVU’s fall athletic programs […]

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Mountaineer Ticket Office has announced season and single-game ticket information for the 2025 women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball home schedules.
 
Season tickets for all three programs are now available, offering Mountaineer fans an affordable and convenient way to support WVU’s fall athletic programs throughout the season. All season tickets will be sold as general admission only.
 
Season ticket pricing is set at $75 for all sports. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive WVU soccer scarf as part of a bundled offer with either soccer season ticket for a total of $90. Scarves will be available only through this package and will not be sold separately.
 
All season tickets will be delivered via mobile delivery only, and sales will conclude at the beginning of each sport’s first home event. Flex plans will not be offered for the 2025 season.
 
Single-game tickets purchased in advance through WVUGAME.com will be priced at $8. Group tickets for parties of 10 or more will be available for $5 per person in advance. On-site, game day pricing will be $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and youth (ages 18 and under).
 
Tickets can be purchased online at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, or in person at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum.
 
For more information on team schedules, ticket policies, and promotional events, visit WVUsports.com and follow @WVUsports on social media.



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