Iowa Hawkeyes basketball star Caitlin Clark has become the second women's college basketball player to sign a Name, Image, and Likeness deal with Gatorade. The financial terms of Clark's multi-year partnership with Gatorade were not disclosed, but Gatorade has announced that it will contribute $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation , whose objective is to enhance the lives of young people through education, nutrition, and sports.
Clark, who was named the 2023 Naismith National Player of the Year , revealed her new NIL deal in a video titled "You Can Too," in which she encourages young people to dream big through sports.
"This partnership is special because not only does Gatorade fuel the best athletes in the game, but they're also committed to leading by example and giving back, which is what I strive to do every day," Clark said in a statement . "I'm honored to join such an iconic brand that has some of the most elite athletes in sport on their roster and can't wait for what's ahead."
Currently, there are only four college athletes who have signed NIL agreements with Gatorade. The only other women's college basketball player who has an NIL partnership with Gatorade is the University of Connecticut's Paige Bueckers . The other two college athletes with NIL contracts with Gatorade are Penn State running back Nick Singleton and Colorado's quarterback Shedeur Sanders .
Clark's NIL profile includes endorsements from State Farm, Buick, Nike, Hy-Vee, Bose, and H&R Block, among others.
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Caitlin Clark has emerged as a significant contributor to the growth of women's basketball. In 2023, she achieved an average of 27.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game, which led to her being named the National Player of the Year. Clark played a vital role in leading Iowa to the national championship game, marking the first time in the program's history.
Despite being one of the most remarkable players in women's college basketball, Clark doesn't have the highest NIL valuation according to one metric. Clark comes in after LSU stars Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson.
LSU star Angel Reese, who played a crucial role in helping the Tigers win the national championship in 2023, has emerged as the top beneficiary of NIL deals. An Oct. Front Office Sports report explained Reese currently holds the most NIL deals.
On3's NIL metric has Reese with a $1.7 million NIL valuation, while Clark's sits at $777,000 as of this writing. Some of the most prominent brands that have signed endorsement deals with Reese include Reebok, Amazon, PlayStation, JanSport, SI Swimsuit, and Raisin Cane.
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Flau'jae Johnson , a sophomore from LSU, has secured several NIL deals, surpassing Clark in value. She is currently signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation with a record deal and has endorsement agreements with Tampax, Amazon, Papa John's, Doritos, Powerade, and Puma, among others.
Currently, there are only four college athletes who have signed NIL agreements with Gatorade. The only other women's college basketball player who has an NIL partnership with Gatorade is the University of Connecticut's Paige Bueckers . The other two college athletes with NIL contracts with Gatorade are Penn State running back Nick Singleton and Colorado's quarterback Shedeur Sanders .
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark's brand continues to grow, signs NIL deal with Gatorade
