Auburn's Sunisa Lee is at the top of her game in the gymnastics world, but that doesn't just go for performance.. A new ranking by On3 detailed the top 10 highest-paid women athletes by NIL in the college landscape, and Lee clocked in at No. You will be able to share this link with anyone and everyone, even on social media. For example, when Nike was an official sponsor of the Olympics in years past, an athlete like Biles wouldnt have been able to wear Athleta gear at the Games. Rick Burton, Syracuse University professor and former chief marketing officer of the USOPC, also puts Lees immediate earnings in the million dollar range. These top college athletes could grab the most money from NIL deals 152 posts. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Still, she pressed on, telling the New York Times in 2020, I am tougher because of it. In addition to her gold medal, Lee won silver in the team event and bronze on uneven bars at Tokyo 2020. The St. Paul, Minn., native has committed to attend Auburn University. As everyone predicted, Sunisa Lee has become a big name in the endorsement deals in college sports. Not bad for someone whose slow recovery from a broken foot left her wanting to bail on trying to make it to Tokyo. Whatever endorsements ultimately come through for Lee, at least this much seems clear in the wake of Thursdays gold medal in the all-around her earnings potential could dwarf even some of the biggest names in college sports. I just didnt want to see myself fall back, she told Elle at the time. Tokyo Olympics' Breakout Stars Suni Lee And Caeleb Dressel - Forbes She is the favorite to win gold on bars, which is her best event, and she is expected to vie for a medal on beam as well, with Graba saying she is fully capable of gold.. Sunisa lee (@sunisalee_) November 15, 2022. Its an incredible win for her.. Dressel, 24, added five gold medals to his trophy case (to go with the two he won at Rio 2016) and not only won swimmings premier Olympic event, the 100-meter freestyle, but powered a Team USA come-from-behind victory in the 4x100 medley relay. Lee, who signed with Auburn back in March, is expected to enroll in classes this fall. In a moment, the American gymnast became the most beloved person on campus before even arriving. But now they can work directly with the athlete they want without making a massive investment in the entire collegiate program. Sensation Suni Lee Recalls Fighting a Soul-Crushing Syndrome, US Olympic Gold Medalist Suni Lee Breaks Silence on Paris Olympics 2024, Makes a Sunisa Lee, of United States, reacts as she poses for a picture after winning the gold medal in the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. They didn't in the hours after her steady, poised performance on floor exercise helped her soar to the top of the podium. In advance of the Tokyo Games, the IOC introduced a relaxed version of Rule 40, a provision that protects the Games exclusivity and intellectual property for official Olympic sponsors by limiting other non-sponsor brands from getting involved. For Sunisa Suni Lee and Caeleb Dressel, two of the Tokyo Olympics breakout stars, the road to Paris 2024 is paved with riches. Theres almost always someone who emerges as the fresh new face of the Olympic Games, and it is almost always a female, Burton said. Thats not limited to endorsement deals, though hes sure whoever ends up representing Lee will capitalize on those. Fill out a booking request form for Sunisa " Suni" Lee, or give us a call at 866-218-5263 to discuss your event. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, College athletes profiting off of NCAA policy, College athletes take advantage of new NCAA policy, One way to fix Social Security? Sportico is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She entered the Olympics as the Auburn athlete with the most reach across social media platforms with 198,000-plus Instagram followers and 19,500-plus Twitter followers as of July 1, when NIL changes went into effect and those numbers have skyrocketed since the start of the Summer Games. Measure of Success: Churchill Downs Race Tracks Sponsorship Strategy Sponsored by IEG, Ourand: Pac-12 has time on media rights, as long as no other schools leave, Fallout from RSN mess means big changes for fans, teams and leagues, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast: Episode 76 -- RSN Armageddon. You may unsubscribe at any time. Everyone had been expecting Simone to win, and [Lee] stepped up. Sunisa Lee's Olympic Gold for Team USA Could Be Worth $1 Million Among the sponsorships Biles earned five years ago were deals with Hersheys, Kelloggs and Nike. Videos Tagged. Shes a million dollar baby, Vince Thompson, founder and CEO of sports and marketing agency MELT, said in an interview. Her phone practically melted from her notifications on social media from random well-wishers to actress Reese Witherspoon. She plans to compete at Auburn in the meantime, which also adds to her earning potential with the emerging name, image and likeness market at the college level. SPACs: What a Special Purpose Acquisition Company Means for Sports. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. Thus, her career is on an upward trajectory and is getting better every year. America loves champions, but they especially love meeting new celebrities, who emerged against difficult odds.. But he swam only in relay events and was very much overshadowed by his all-star teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Held and Nathan Adrian. Shes out of central casting. She is the holy grail of consumers, the target for nearly every marketer in America. None of them competed collegiately, opting to turn professional in an effort to cash in on their newfound celebrity. . Verified. Athlete. Olympics2024Chances, Im Obsessed: Olympic Champion Suni Lee Reacts to an Adorable Surprise From She was only bested by another gymnast, LSU's Olivia Dunne, who topped the list with 2. . Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. 1 hour 13 min ago, By Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. American gold medalist Sunisa Lee and college basketball star Shareef O'Neal, son of L.A. Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal, sit atop a list of 30 athletes who sports-betting analytics firm Action. American gold medalist Sunisa Lee and college basketball star Shareef O'Neal, son of L.A. Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal, sit atop a list of 30 athletes who sports-betting analytics firm Action Network believes could rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars based on their social media reach alone. St. James is the Saint in Smith & Saint. By registering you agree to our privacy policy, terms & conditions and to receive occasional emails from Ad Age. All rights reserved (About Us). Its the most popular event. What are the various brands that Suni Lee endorses? Exploring all Gymnasts had to choose between accepting endorsements or college scholarships. Longer term, her gold is even more valuable. Were just preparing for anything, Graba said. Its a dream scenario.. She would have had to go pro.. License Verification (Nursys.com) | NCSBN Posts. On3 NIL, which tracks college athletes' NIL deals, estimates Lee's market value of $1.5 million. Sunisa Lee of Team United States poses with her gold medal after winning the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Jeff Graba doesn't see why Lee can't go to school while enjoying the trappings that come with being a multiple-medal winner in one of the Olympics marquee sports. Furthermore, she won two more medals in Tokyo to the delight of most fans. - 1 day 2 hours ago. Matthes played right field at Alabama and was drafted in the fourth round by the Colorado Rockies and played in the minors for six years before becoming an agent at CAA. "Smash the cap", Millions of Americans nearing retirement age with no savings, Vast majority of U.S. homes are unaffordable to the average buyer, Difficult economy and loneliness forces some retirees to move in with family. Team USA Gymnast Sunisa Suni Lee took home the gold medal in the all-around competition at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday, July 28. Sports businessexperts have predictedthat individual college athletes could generate tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorships and endorsements during their school days. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Team USA gymnast Sunisa Lee took home the gold medal in the womens all-around on Thursday, a victory that some marketers say could come with a seven-figure financial windfall for the 18-year-old star, who just shot her marketability into the stratosphere. She's in no hurry to find out. Follow her on Twitter@SBJLizMullen. There are classes to get to. Sunisa Lee (@sunisalee) Instagram photos and videos Hercy Miller, a Tennessee State University basketball player and son of rapper-turned-entrepreneur Master P,signeda four-year deal worth $2 million with tech company Web Apps America, his father said. Follow. We are very committed to growing this baseball division to be the best division in baseball, Matthes said. She attended Auburn University on a gymnastics scholarship and has been a regular there. "So I feel like if I were to go pro, it would have to be like something like really good.. Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. Sunisa Lee of Team United States poses with her gold medal after winning the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 29, 2021 in. Just ask Biles or Katie Ledecky, who parlayed their Olympic success into seven-figure earnings. After her successful career, she competed at the 2018 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships and won the gold medal in the team final competition while also claiming the silver medal for vault, balance beam, and floor exercise. 1 high school prospect, shortstop, Matthes co-leads the division with WME agent and partner, We are very committed to growing this baseball division to be the best division in baseball, Matthes said. "So it's name image and likeness. Sunisa Lee competes on balance beam during the all-around finals Thursday. First published on October 13, 2021 / 2:46 PM. News provided by The Associated Press. 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Under the new version of Rule 40, she can. A star like this is also relatable to others, and when he breaks down and shows emotion like that, hes relatable.. One of our team members will be happy to provide pricing guidance .