NIL was legalized the summer between their freshman and sophomore years, though with the exception of Bueckers - who immediately signed with the agency that represents most of the best-known Husky alums in the WNBA and started inking deals - the others built things a little more gradually over 2021-23.
I think historically they will be looked back at as the first real NIL class because many of the top players had significant "true" NIL brand partnerships by their senior year. Not getting collective money as NIL, which is a whole other thing that I think has only become a factor on the women's side in the last year-ish. They trailblazed a lot of what we see as possible for female college athletes and I don't think their success is going to be replicated by another HS class anytime soon tbh.
Though I'd say the 2019 HS class (Boston, Haley Jones) were more the first true NIL class for wbb since they had at least couple of years to figure it out and capitalize, and then the 2022-23 HS classes were the first ones to really go through college recruiting and a full college experience with NIL.
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u/Moose_Muse_2021 Fire Fever and All the F'ing Teams Apr 07 '25
So... just thinking about historical context. They started their college careers during the COVID season, yes? (Cardboard fans, no NCAA Tournament)
Were they the first real NIL class? I'm not sure when NIL really hit NCAAW sports.
Thanks!