The arguably most talented college athlete is sitting out this year. I am talking about Juju Watkins, who has been ruled out of the ongoing 2025-26 season because of an ACL injury. While Watkins is temporarily away from the court, she has just made a record-breaking investment on the other end of the sporting world.

The National Women’s Soccer League is following in the WNBA’s footsteps. Boston FC is set to join the NWSL as the 15th team from next season onwards, and now  Juju Watkins is a part of their ownership. Watkins has become the first NCAA athlete to own a part of a professional sports team. “Boston Legacy FC is creating a space for women to achieve, lead, and inspire others at the highest level,” Watkins said in a statement released by Boston Legacy, “and I’m proud to be part of the movement pushing women’s sports forward.”

This is the effect of the NIL era. Since players can earn money from brand deals since college itself, the most popular ones like Watkins have accumulated enough to buy a stake in a professional club. “Juju’s investment marks a groundbreaking moment for women’s sports and the power of NIL,” Boston Legacy owner Jennifer Epstein said. “As the first college athlete to directly invest in a women’s professional sports team, she’s showing that today’s student-athletes aren’t just building their own brands — they’re shaping the future of the game.”

 (This is a developing story…)