Yahoo Finance

University of Iowa basketball player discusses growing NIL gender pay gap

Josh Schafer · Producer
Wed, March 9, 2022, 4:06 PM

The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation gap between men’s and women’s NCAA athletes is widening, according to new data released by Opendorse on Monday. ... The difference between female and male payment grew by more than 4% over the past two months, with men on Division 1 teams accounting for 71.7% of the compensation while women earned 28.3%.

The University of Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark believes the discrepancy comes down to big brands choosing not to partner with female athletes. ... “I think we just haven’t been given those opportunities,” Clark said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above).

Data indicates that Clark may be onto something: Football, baseball, and men’s basketball lead all NIL activities, per Opendorse, and account for nearly half of all NIL activity, while women’s basketball represents less than 5%. ... The differences between NCAA men’s and women’s athletics go beyond just NIL. Clark highlighted the 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments as a prime example.

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