Angel Reese and Olivia Dunne recently graced the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s October issue, aptly titled “The Money Issue.” In any modern scenario where college sports and finance are increasingly intertwined, these two prominent LSU athletes have emerged as trailblazers through the NIL deals. While they broke barriers every day, Reese’s attention peaked post-2023 NCAA Championship dominance.

Reese ranks only behind Olivia Dunne among women athletes, in the top NIL valuation with over $1.2 million attached to her name. Despite the latest billion-dollar lawsuit against the NCAA, Reese is only focused on protecting her own brand.

Angel Reese loves being the blueprint of NIL

A record-breaking 9.9M viewers watched the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship game between the LSU Lady Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes. Numbers aside, the game sparked a debate about diversity and competition levels in women’s sports.

Recently, while speaking with SI, Angel Reese expressed her enthusiasm for being featured on the magazine cover alongside Olivia Dunne. She boldly proclaimed, “I love it, we’re honestly the blueprint of NIL.”

For Reese, who is known not just for her basketball prowess but also her branding acumen, NIL represents an opportunity to build a brand beyond the basketball court.?She shared, “Especially a player like myself, being able to use my platform and to build a brand off the court is something that’s big for me. I mean the biggest dream is to play in the WNBA but also having a brand outside of that.”

She further clarified that once she steps onto the court, it’s all business, with no thoughts of NIL distractions. “When I get on the court, it’s about business. I don’t think about NIL at all. I just think about winning and doing whatever it takes to win. But then off the court, just knowing that everybody’s watching you. Knowing that you have a brand, you have to protect that brand at all times.”

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Reese’s approach to NIL is about showcasing the multifaceted aspects of her personality.

Olivia Dunne and other women athletes leading the NIL charge

Reportedly, since the NCAA allowed college athletes to profit from NIL two years ago, they’ve collectively earned nearly $2 billion. However, a significant portion of this revenue has predominantly flowed to football and men’s basketball players.

But at LSU, the paradigm is different. The university boasts an array of female sports stars who are breaking new ground in NIL deals. Both Reese and Dunne’s NIL valuation crosses over $1.5 million in NIL deals, according to the On3 NIL 100 list. After her NCAA tournament victory, Reese’s earnings skyrocketed to $1.7 million, showcasing the NIL era’s potential for female athletes. Meanwhile, Dunne’s valuation stands at an impressive $3.2 million.

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Angel Reese and Olivia Dunne’s rise to NIL charts in college sports not only breaks stereotypes but also sets a new standard for the stardom and potential of female athletes.