UConn star guard Paige Bueckers has the highest social media earning potential among women’s and men’s players in the Sweet 16, Axios reported Thursday.
Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith is second-highest on the list, according to data from NIL marketing platform Opendorse, and women’s players hold 11 of the top 20 spots.
Opendorse estimates that a social media post from Bueckers is worth $62,900, and a post from Van Lith is worth $44,200. After those two comes a steep drop-off; a post from Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, third overall and first among men’s players, is worth $10,400, according to Opendorse.
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This year’s round of March Madness marks the first in the NIL era. While football players have profited the most from the new laws, taking 51 percent of NIL earnings, women’s basketball players come in second with 19 percent, according to Opendorse. Men’s basketball players have taken 15 percent of NIL earnings.
Since the NCAA adopted a name, image and likeness policy last summer, Bueckers has taken advantage, signing deals with Gatorade, StockX and Cash App. The sophomore has more than 968,000 followers on Instagram and 357,000 followers on TikTok.
Bueckers and No. 2 seed UConn will take the court at 2 p.m. ET Saturday for their Sweet 16 contest against No. 3 Indiana.