Connecticut v Iowa

UConn star guard Paige Bueckers has weighed in on the debate surrounding NIL and WNBA salaries, highlighting the similarities between NIL deals in college and endorsements earned by WNBA players in the professional realm.

Bueckers participated in an exclusive discussion on NIL with former Seattle Storm player Sue Bird, Indiana Fever forward and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike on TOGETHXR.

The senior guard emphasized that NIL deals translate into endorsement opportunities for women’s basketball players, supplementing the salary they earn from playing in the league.

“You’re making NIL in college. Once you get to the WNBA those endorsements are gonna follow you on top of the salary that you’re also now making which you didn’t have in college,” Bueckers said.

The $1 million NIL-valued Bueckers (per On3) shot down misconceptions of the NIL deals and pointed out that people who make false narratives about the subject tend to mislead others.

“It’s really not that hard to educate yourself, but it’s like people who create these narratives in their head and it’s so hard to undo it because people then just follow those narratives. And then people who don’t know nothing follow other people who don’t know nothing, and it’s just like a bunch of people who know nothing,” she added.

UConn's Paige Bueckers drives to the basket.

In the same conversation in TOGETHXR, Paige Bueckers talked about how some people had the misconception that she stayed in UConn to get more money.

“Ever since I announced, you just look at the comments be like, ‘Yeah, she’s staying because she’s gonna make so much more money staying in college than in the WNBA,’” Bueckers said.

Bueckers emphasized that the NIL deals are similar to endorsement deals in the WNBA and only the title changes.

“Because like NIL, nothing changes. It’s just like once you get to the league like the title changes, it’s no longer an NIL deal. It’s just an endorsement deal,” Bueckers said.

In the recently concluded season, Bueckers showcased her skills in 39 games, boasting impressive averages of 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Her contributions were instrumental in guiding the team to the Final Four, although they ultimately fell short against the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa Hawkeyes.