Unrivaled Basketball signed nine women's college basketball players to NIL deals Wednesday, naming them to a 2026 roster two years before they'd be draft-eligible for the WNBA. UConn freshman Sarah Strong and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo headline the group. The league is paying them now while they play NCAA ball, then expects them in Miami for the professional season that tips off January 2026.
The other seven: Kaleena Smith (Ohio State), Jaloni Cambridge (Michigan State), Saniya Rivers (North Carolina State), Dominique Malonga (USC), Flau'jae Johnson (LSU), ZaKiyah Johnson (NC State), and Olivia Miles (Notre Dame). All are freshmen or sophomores. The league did not disclose deal terms. A person with knowledge of the structure said the NIL payments function as signing bonuses that convert into standard player contracts when the athlete turns professional, with the early money credited against future salary. Unrivaled declined to comment on contract mechanics.
The pipeline model solves two problems. One, Unrivaled needs talent depth for a league that plays January through March, a window that conflicts with European club seasons where most WNBA stars earn their largest checks. Signing athletes before they enter the overseas market skips the bidding war. Two, the league is three months old and has 36 rostered players for 2025. Securing commitments from the next recruiting class creates continuity while the broadcast model—linear rights currently held by TNT Sports—tries to prove itself before the next media deal.
The risk sits with the athletes. An NIL deal pays them now but binds them to Unrivaled's professional contract terms later, terms they negotiate before knowing their WNBA draft position or overseas market value. Sarah Strong is projected as a top-three pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft. If she goes first overall, her WNBA rookie salary will be roughly $80,000. European clubs pay top rookies $150,000 to $300,000 for a full season. Unrivaled's 2025 player salaries reportedly range from $100,000 to $250,000 for a ten-week season, plus equity. The league is betting that its per-week rate, Miami location, and no overseas travel make the economics work even for players who could command more abroad. The athletes are betting the league still exists in two years and that the equity component pays off.
Flau'jae Johnson already has a robust NIL portfolio, including a deal with Puma and a rap career. Her Unrivaled signing suggests she views the league as a brand platform, not just a paycheck. Hannah Hidalgo is averaging 24 points per game for Notre Dame and will likely test the transfer portal leverage before her junior year. If she moves schools, the Unrivaled deal follows her. If she leaves college early for the WNBA, the professional contract accelerates. The mechanics resemble MLB's pre-draft signing bonuses, but with public eligibility still running.
Watch whether Unrivaled's broadcast deal extends past 2025. TNT Sports' parent company is shedding assets and renegotiating NBA rights. If the league loses linear carriage or moves to streaming-only, the equity grants in these NIL deals lose their implied value. Also watch the transfer portal after this season. Several of these nine players could move schools in the spring, and the NIL deal portability will be tested for the first time. Finally, watch the 2026 WNBA Draft positioning. If multiple players project as lottery picks, the overseas market will offer competing contracts that make Unrivaled's terms look thin.
The league now has 45 players under contract or NIL commitment for rosters that require 36 active players per season. Someone gets cut, or the league expands to eight teams faster than planned.
The takeaway
Unrivaled locks **9** college stars to NIL-to-pro pipeline deals, creating roster depth while binding athletes to future contract terms they negotiate before knowing their draft stock.
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