Published by: AK98
Female NIL Earners of 2023
#1 Olivia Dunne
“Livvy Dunne” has established herself as the most popular NCAA athlete on social media platforms, boasting over 9 million followers and receiving upwards of 330 million likes on her TikTok videos. Hailing from Hillsdale, New Jersey, Dunne completed her education at Abeka Academy and honed her gymnastics skills at the Eastern National Academy in Paramus.
Dunne participated in prestigious competitions like the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup, the P&G Championships in 2016 and 2017, and the 2017 U.S. Classic. In 2021, she joined Louisiana State University (LSU) and made a significant impact in her first year. She achieved All-America recognition in the uneven bars category, scoring an impressive 9.90 at the NCAA championships and a personal best of 9.925.
Additionally, Dunne has been successful in leveraging her name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, securing lucrative endorsements from brands like Vuori Clothing, American Eagle, Plant Fuel, Bartleby, and several others.
#2 Angel Reese
Reese was highly acclaimed as the second top recruit in 2020, emerging from St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. Initially committing to Maryland, she distinguished herself as a sophomore, leading her team to the Sweet 16 in 2022 with averages of 17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
During her freshman year, Reese played in 15 games, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds, which earned her a place on the Big 10 All-Freshman team. Prior to the 2022-2023 season, Reese was a sought-after player in the Transfer Portal and ultimately chose to join LSU. Her remarkable performance was pivotal in LSU’s journey to the national championship in the 2022-2023 season. In the championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Reese achieved a record-breaking 34th double-double of the season, contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Her exceptional average of 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds over six games in the tournament earned her the title of Most Outstanding Player.
Reese also enjoys a substantial following on social media and has successfully engaged in numerous name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements with prominent brands, including Coach, Amazon Merch on Demand, McDonald’s, Sparkling Ice, Xfinity, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse, and Discord. Furthermore, she expanded her horizons by collaborating with ESPN’s Holly Rowe during the 2022 LSU football season, gaining insights into sports journalism.
#3 FlauJae Johnson
Teammate of Reese on LSU’s womens basketball team, Johnson is an exceptional talent, both in basketball AND music. At Savannah Sprayberry High School in Georgia, she made a significant mark by scoring a school record of 1,615 points, leading to the retirement of her No. 4 jersey. Her basketball prowess earned her the distinction of being the first McDonald’s All-American to be recruited to LSU by coach Kim Mulkey. Johnson’s skills shone brightly in the Jordan Brand Classic, where she was named MVP for her outstanding 27-point performance. Remarkably, she was also the sole female participant in the Iverson Classic.
In the realm of music, Johnson has carved out a successful career as a rapper, securing a record deal with Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z. Her commitment to LSU was uniquely announced through the release of her song “All Falls Down,” which was complemented by a music video featuring Baton Rouge artist Lil Boosie. In the area of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, Johnson has made significant strides, notably securing a major agreement with Puma.
#4 Haley Cavinder
Haley and Hanna Cavinder were well-prepared to navigate the new landscape of college athletics when the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules took effect on July 1, 2021. Each sister has attracted over 700,000 followers on Instagram, and their joint TikTok account boasts a staggering 4.5 million followers. They quickly became prominent figures in the NIL space, securing several significant deals right from the start, thereby setting a benchmark in the NIL market.
The Cavinder twins had a notable tenure at Fresno State before transferring to the University of Miami for the 2022-2023 season. After spending a year at Miami, they decided to retire from college basketball to concentrate on their burgeoning careers as influencers. However, Haley chose to resume her basketball journey, announcing in October 2023 her transfer to Texas Christian University (TCU) for the 2024-2025 season.
As one half of the “Cavender Twins”, Haley’s prowess extends beyond her NIL achievements, as evidenced by her exceptional performance on the basketball court. During her junior year at Fresno State, she established an NCAA record for the highest free-throw percentage in a season, successfully making 109 out of 112 attempts, translating to a 97.3 percent success rate. Moreover, Haley became one of the few players in Mountain West history, and the first since 2006, to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding. At Miami, her skills earned her a place as a second-team All-ACC selection, with an average of 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in the 2022-2023 season.
#5 Caitlin Clark
Clark emerged as a highly touted five-star recruit from West Des Moines’ Dowling Catholic High School in Iowa. Her early basketball career was marked by notable achievements, including two gold medals with Team USA at the 2016 U16 FIBA Americas Tournament and the 2019 U19 FIBA World Cup. Upon joining the University of Iowa, Clark made an impressive debut in her freshman year. She was recognized with first-team All-America honors by The Athletic, WBCA, and USBWA, and received second-team honors from the Associated Press.
Additionally, she won the honors of Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was selected for both the unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team and unanimous first-team All-Big Ten.
Clark continued to excel in international competitions, securing her third gold medal and the MVP title at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup with USA Basketball. In her sophomore year, she was honored as the Big Ten Player of the Year and received the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year and Dawn Staley Guard of the Year awards, becoming the first to win the latter in consecutive seasons.
During the 2022-2023 season, Clark was instrumental in leading Iowa to its first Final Four since 1993, defeating top-seeded South Carolina in the semifinals. Despite a loss to LSU in the national championship game, she concluded the season with remarkable averages of 27.8 points and 8.6 assists, and a 38.9% success rate from the three-point line.
Clark hails from a family steeped in collegiate sports heritage; her father played baseball and basketball at Simpson College, while her older brother, Blake, is a football player at Iowa State. In addition to her athletic prowess, Clark has a significant presence in the NIL sphere, securing deals with Topps, Hy-Vee, and H&R Block, and running a successful merchandise website.