The rise of the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) industry has had a notable impact on college sports. Student-athletes like Angel Reese and Olivia Dunne now have a unique opportunity to profit financially from their skills and personal brands. According to NIL startup Opendorse, this change in collegiate athletics has empowered these players and created a flourishing market worth an astounding $1 billion annually.

The Cavinder twins, Haley and Hanna, have been carrying the torch for the NIL movement. Unfortunately, they have also found themselves in the spotlight at times not for the right reasons. Recently, the Cavinder twins put out a candid response to online hate and backlash.

The Cavinder Twins are redefining the NIL industry

The Cavinder twins, Haley and Hanna Cavinder have established themselves as trailblazers in the era of NIL in NCAA athletics. They are well-known for their social media presence with over 4.5 million followers on TikTok. From making money through social media posts to launching a billboard in Times Square to advertise Boost Mobile, they kickstarted their journey into the realm of NIL in July 2021.

Meanwhile, on the court, their basketball prowess was crucial in helping the Miami Hurricanes reach the Elite 8. With an outstanding 2,065 career points and a rating of 19th among all active Division I players, Haley Cavinder undoubtedly left her mark on the floor. She scored 12.2 points per game on average throughout the season and made 65 three-pointers.

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The team’s success was also greatly aided by her sister Hanna Cavinder, who scored less frequently but still contributed an average of 3.8 points per game.

Following their graduation, they have come to understand that their actual potential resides outside of the basketball court, embracing TikTok and venturing into uncharted territory like the WWE. The twins then developed partnerships with significant brands including Intuit TurboTax and Champs Sports. Following their NIL deals, they earn more than $1.6 million annually collectively according to On3.

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Unfortunately for the twins, their NIL deals haven’t been without criticism. And most recently, the Cavinder twins went sour on haters.

The Cavinder Twins clap back

Haley and Hanna Cavinder wasted no time starting new endeavors connected to their prior NIL activities, only one week after declaring their retirement from collegiate basketball. The Cavinder twins reported that they would join WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) as professional wrestlers. Their participation in WWE’s NIL program, ‘Next in Line,’ which began in 2021, culminated in this move. The program offered prospective paths to full-time careers in professional wrestling while compensating athletes for promoting the league.

This month, the twins appeared in an interview with GQ Sports where they addressed the backlash that they receive for their NIL deals. “I’m never gonna sit here and not understand other people’s side,” Hanna told GQ, “I know that Haley and I have worked really, really hard. And I don’t wanna ever judge someone based on what they can’t control.”

“I see it, though,” Haley says, “I see why people will be like, ‘Well, they’re two white girls, they show their bodies,’ whatever. I’m not gonna deny that fact. But at the end of the day, what would you do? I wanna make this amount of money. I wanna be successful just as much as anyone else. But I also am not gonna deny that fact, and not sympathize and figure out like, ‘Okay, how can we help? How can we use our platform?’”

Meanwhile, while they may receive backlash for their NIL deals, they continue to get richer by the minute. In fact, they even earn more than Angel Reese who has an NIL valuation of $1.4 million.

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The debate surrounding the Cavinder twins’ NIL deals may be complicated. But there is no doubt that they have transformed collegiate athletics and NIL contracts. What are your thoughts on the cross-sports twins? Let us know in the comments below!