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Unrivaled Bets Big On College Talent With Watkins, Fudd In NIL Class

July 21, 2025
09:43 AM
6 min read
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Unrivaled, in partnership with Samsung, has signed 14 of the most prominent women’s college basketball players to NIL deals, with Watkin, Fudd in the new NIL Class.

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6 min read

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investment

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July 21, 2025

09:43 AM

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Forbes

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investmentmoneyfinancialsportsentertainmentmarket cyclesseasonal analysismarket

What's particularly noteworthy is SportsMoneyUnrivaled Bets Big On College Talent With Watkins, Fudd In NIL ClassByJenn Nelson, Contributor

Furthermore, Meanwhile, Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights, in this volatile climate

Jenn Nelson covers women’s sports and athlete features (this bears monitoring), given the current landscape

Nevertheless, AuthorJul 21, 2025, 09:43am EDTJul 21, 2025, 09:47am EDTMEDLEY, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Lunar Owls goes up for a shot against

Moreover, However, More Angel Reese #5 of Rose during the first half at Wayfair Arena on February 21, 2025 in Medley, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)Getty Images Unrivaled, in partnership with Samsung, has signed 14 of the most minent women’s college basketball players to NIL deals, launching one of the sport’s most ambitious athlete development efforts to date, given the current landscape

The full roster includes: JuJu Watkins (USC) Azzi Fudd (UConn) Lauren Betts (UCLA) Sienna Betts (UCLA) Madison Booker (Texas) Audi Crooks (Iowa State) MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) Flau’jae Johnson (LSU) Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina) Olivia Miles (TCU) Kiki Rice (UCLA) Sarah Strong (UConn) Syla Swords (Michigan) This class brings with it 32 NCAA Tournament appearances, 25 Sweet 16s, 14 Elite Eights, 10 Final Fours, and four national championships, along with a history of success on the international stage with USA and Canada Basketball

Furthermore, The analysis reveals se athletes are already household names in college sports and will ly shape the direction of the game for years to come. “ in elite women’s basketball talent is central to our mission,” said Luke Cooper, President of Basketball Operations

Additionally, “This's locking in the best players early and giving them the resources, platform, and support to grow with us. ” MORE FOR YOU Unrivaled Brings A New Model For Women’s BasketballMEDLEY, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Rose BC members lift the championship trophy after defeating Vinyl BC in

More the inaugural season of Unrivaled at Wayfair Arena on March 17, 2025 in Medley, Florida

Additionally, (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)Getty Images Launched in 2023, Unrivaled was built to reimagine women’s basketball

This demonstrates that league is player-led and structured around a short-form season designed to fit within the WNBA offseason, offering top-tier athletes a chance to earn, grow, and build their brands year-round

Co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league secured investment from high-file backers including Alex Morgan, Chelsea Clinton, and Carmelo Anthony

Un traditional leagues that rely on centralized team structures, Unrivaled is designed to elevate players as individuals and entrepreneurs

Furthermore, Furthermore, That mission is reflected in this NIL class, which positions the league at the center of the women’s basketball pipeline, years before these athletes reach the fessional level

Unrivaled NIL Strategy Focused On DevelopmentNEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 16: Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers are seen at 'Good Morning America' on

More April 16, 2025 in New York City, in light of current trends. (Photo by The Hapa Blonde/GC Images)GC Images The NIL agreements go beyond endorsement deals, in today's financial world

The athletes will attend The Future is Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event hosted at the league’s headquarters in Miami

Gramming includes on-court skill development, brand-building sessions, merchandise design, social media strategy, and group activities aimed at creating a sense of community and d purpose

Moreover, Samsung Galaxy, the league’s presenting sponsor, will vide the mobile nology powering the summit, giving athletes access to advanced content creation tools and digital experiences. “Samsung and Unrivaled are building the future of sports,” said Olga Suvorova, Vice President of Mobile eXperience Marketing at Samsung Electronics America

Furthermore, “This summit isn’t just visibility

It’s opportunity, innovation, and opening new paths for athletes. ” Unrivaled Strengthening Athlete RelationshipsBATON ROUGE, LA - MARCH 22: Flau'jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Tigers in action against the San Diego

More State Aztecs during the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in this volatile climate

However, (Photo by Reagan Cotten/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)University Images via Getty Images Unrivaled’s model centers around long-term athlete alignment

Last December, the league announced NIL partnerships with Paige Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson (quite telling)

JuJu Watkins, already an investor through the league’s Series A funding round, now deepens her involvement as a participant in the NIL gram

These multifaceted relationships reflect a shift in how modern athletes engage with leagues, not just as performers, but as stakeholders and partners, considering recent developments

However, Furthermore, By meeting these college athletes early in their careers, Unrivaled is establishing a foundation of trust and loyalty

However, It’s a long game designed to ensure that the league becomes a natural next step in their fessional journeys (this bears monitoring), in light of current trends

Moreover, Unrivaled Rising Demand Meets Smart StrategyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: Southern California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) is

Furthermore, More introduced during a NCAA women's basketball game against the Cal State Northridge Matadors on November 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, given current economic conditions. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)Getty Images The women’s basketball landscape is changing fast

However, Additionally, College stars Watkins, Hidalgo, and Fudd are pulling millions of views on social media and drawing national attention (which is quite significant), considering recent developments

Furthermore, The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four shattered viewership records, and WNBA attendance and ratings are rising steadily

However, Commercial partners, media companies, and fans are recognizing what many inside the sport have long known, the duct is elite, and the market is ready

Unrivaled is capitalizing on this moment by aligning its growth with the talent that is driving the surge (this bears monitoring)

By in future stars now, the league is not only building credibility but also setting up a direct pipeline from college to its own platform

On the other hand, Azzi Fudd and Flau’jae Johnson, in today's market environment

Moreover, What the data shows is Future is Unrivaled Summit presented by Samsung Galaxy

Unrivaled This's a shift from the reactive, late-stage recruiting model most leagues rely on

Furthermore, It’s active, personal, and deeply strategic

The evidence shows tells us that NIL initiative cements Unrivaled as more than a league, it is becoming an incubator for elite talent and a brand built on athlete empowerment

Moreover, The case is strong

By offering more than court time, including content opportunities, revenue sharing, brand-building, and investment in players, Unrivaled is building a model that reflects the modern athlete’s needs and aspirations

Furthermore, Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.