Angel Reese: The New Playbook for Athlete Influencers

If you didn’t know…

NCAA superstar and champion, Angel Reese, is EVERYWHERE right now.

From starring in an ad for Starry Soda, the official soft drink of the NBA, WNBA, and the G League, commercials during the NBA Finals, to appearing in a music video, and even vlogging on her personal YouTube channel.

And what's she doing in her vlog?

Just a casual visit to the headquarters of Instagram and TikTok in New York City with her agent, Jeanine Ogbonnaya, celebrating a million followers.

All this, and she's still juggling the responsibilities of being a college student.

It's a dizzying pace, a testament to the new era of athlete influencers, and a clear demonstration of the opportunities that the intersection of tech, influencers, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights can create for young athletes, especially women. Reese's story is a fascinating case study in this new landscape.

Currently she’s the only woman who ranks in the Top Ten overall NIL athletes.

Angel’s different, different.

It's not just about TikTok dances and viral challenges; it's about young people harnessing their influence and talent to create substantial financial opportunities for themselves.

It's a new era in sports & entrepreneurship.

I'm excited to see where it leads.

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The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) market is a burgeoning industry that has seen rapid growth since its inception. According to Forbes, the NIL market is currently valued at $1.1 billion, a figure that is expected to rise as more athletes and brands recognize the potential of this new revenue stream.

This growth has been driven by the advent of digital media and streaming platforms, which have allowed athletes to reach and engage with fans on a global scale. For instance, athletes can now monetize their popularity through merchandise sales, digital advertising, and subscription services.

In its first year alone, the NIL market reached $917 million, according to Yahoo Finance. This figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, with some experts predicting that the market could reach $1.14 billion next year, according to Front Office Sports.

Opendorse, a platform that helps athletes monetize their NIL rights, projects that the NIL market will be worth $500 million in 2022, its first full year, before maturing to roughly $1 billion annually.

These figures underscore the vast potential of the NIL market and the opportunities it presents for athletes like Angel Reese. With her rising popularity and strong personal brand, Reese is well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities and set a precedent for how young stars can navigate this space before making it to the pros.

The rise in Reese's NIL valuation is also indicative of the increasing value of professional sports teams. With new TV deals and ad revenue adjustments happening every few years, the value of these teams continues to grow. This trend is likely to continue, making ownership of a sports team an increasingly attractive proposition for investors.

Angel's story is a perfect example of how the intersection of tech, influencers, and NIL rights is creating new opportunities for athletes, particularly women.

As digital platforms continue to expand their reach, the potential for athletes to monetize their popularity is only set to increase. This, coupled with the increasing value of professional sports teams, makes this an exciting time for athletes and investors alike.