The NIL movement has shockingly been a divisive issue.
There are plenty that are on the side of collegiate athletes being paid for their NIL. However, more people are against that notion than one would think.
Sue Bird, who would’ve earned millions of dollars in NIL had it been a thing during her UConn days, is unsurprisingly pro-NIL.
“I do love it,” Bird said last week at the Connecticut Forum at The Bushnell in Hartford. “I think it’s a little bit of a growing pain phase (for) some coaches but a lot of coaches are like, it’s a new norm and they’re figuring it out.
“I think eventually it’ll just be part of the normal conversation. And why shouldn’t these athletes be able to take part in their own success? So I do love it.”
Longtime UConn women’s head basketball coach Geno Auriemma isn’t necessarily against NIL, but he does see some red flags.
“I’m OK with it. I’m OK with players getting an opportunity to capitalize on their abilities. It’s going to cause a lot of problems, definitely, like anything else. It’s a great idea. People think it’s a great idea,” Auriemma said.
UConn, which is arguably the most reputable women’s college basketball program out there, hasn’t seen any problems with NIL as of yet.
“Accept it as creative free agency, because you have an eye out and they’re right with it,” Auriemma said. “You have the transfer portal, so now kids can leave anytime they want. And it’s usually associated with the NIL money.
“… A player could leave the championship team to go someplace else to make more money. Knock on wood, I haven’t had to deal with that yet. Our best players choose to stay.”
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