🏅The best team in WBB of the 2020s runs at a deficit

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Hey there,

The Final Four is tonight, so we’re not going to waste any more of your time here – We’ve got another basketball-packed edition of NIL Wire.

First, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program is operating at a major financial loss right now… but Dawn Staley’s not worried. Then, an update on how much money the SEC has made from March Madness. And lastly, the “new norm” that’s emerging as transfer portal price-tags rise – it’s all coming up right now!

We think we’re pretty great, but we’re not perfect. We’d love to hear feedback on anything and everything about our newsletter. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected] to get in touch — now let’s get into it!

— Cole and Collin

The Big 3

South Carolina WBB Operates at a Significant Loss

Women’s basketball is ascending in popularity, but the money hasn’t quite caught up to the hype yet. Take South Carolina for example: The most successful program of the NIL era is losing over $5 million per season to maintain their dominance.

Of course, this isn’t just a women’s basketball problem – basically all of college sports operates at a multi-million-dollar deficit nowadays. In terms of the net loss, women’s sports are actually a bit more fiscally responsible than other sports – they’re bringing in about the third most revenue, yet spending much, much less than football or men’s basketball. 

“We may not make more than we spend — like a lot of programs,” Staley said back in January, “A lot of men’s programs don’t make what they spend — but, for all of the existence of women’s basketball, we have been held back.” (More)

The SEC has received $70 from Men’s March Madness

The SEC made history this year as 14 teams from the conference were chosen to compete in March Madness – three more than the previous record of 11. Well, as if that wasn’t controversial enough, the conference is now receiving at least $70 million dollars from March Madness.

It’s all because of media rights deals. Remember back in January when there was all that talk about how some conferences were getting paid out a ton of money during the CFP? Yeah, well the same thing’s true of March Madness, and with such a lopsided crop of teams, the SEC benefitted more than any conference in college basketball history.

The craziest part? They could make even more depending on how today’s games go. The money is split per round, so basically if either Auburn or Florida win tonight, the payout will increase further. (More)

Expanded Market Means More Transfer Portal Movement

It’s admittedly a bit surprising to see how many players are entering the transfer portal after March Madness… but when you dig into the numbers for how much these guys are getting paid on the open market, it starts to make a bit more sense.

Last year, a $2 million deal basically set the market. In 2025, however, that’s par for the course. The best players in the country are landing deals that stretch up into the $3 million range thanks to the anticipated cash influx from the House Settlement.

“If you can score, you’re going to get paid,” an anonymous source said. “It seems if you’re averaging 15 to 18 a night in the Power Four, you’re going to get close to a million.” (More)

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Jim Nantz: Houston is a “throwback” team in the NIL era thanks to a focus on development

♦️ The NCAA denied the proposed spring football game between Colorado and Syracuse

♦️ Cooper Flagg says that it’s a “tough situation” to play at Duke (a Nike-backed program) while being signed to New Balance for his own personal NIL

♦️ Behind the scenes of Kevin Willard’s dramatic departure from Maryland

♦️ Kentucky basketball is expected to be wielding anywhere from $8-10 million in NIL next season

♦️ Lake Superior State announces a $1.5 million gift to fund the school’s hockey program

♦️ Trae Young just became assistant GM for his alma mater Oklahoma’s basketball program

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

If you were a coach, what would be your main priority in contract negotiations?

• Higher salary - 38%

• More NIL funds to build a roster with - 62%