New rules ensure fair NIL opportunities, allowing women in college athletics like volleyball, cheerleading, gymnastics, softball and soccer to earn money and connect with top companies for future careers.
By The Woodlands Student Center Staff
Imagine a college volleyball star promoting athletic shoes, a softball player featured in a commercial for a local car dealership, or a cheerleader partnering with a national beverage company to highlight a popular sports drink. Once uncommon for women in college sports, these exciting opportunities are now becoming a reality thanks to new Title IX rules.
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced updated guidance ensuring colleges must treat male and female athletes equally when it comes to earning money through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. This means women in sports like volleyball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading now have more opportunities to benefit from their athletic talent while in college.
Why This Is Important for Women
Some people might think sports like football deserve more money because they’re more popular at the professional level. However, for many women athletes, college is their best, and sometimes only, chance to earn money through sports.
For example, there’s no major professional volleyball or softball league in the U.S. the way there is for football. That means for women who play volleyball, softball, or soccer, college could be their only opportunity to benefit from their athletic talent and recognition.
Beyond just earning money, NIL opportunities give women athletes a chance to connect with major companies. As one college gymnast recently said,
NIL deals let her not only earn money during college but also build relationships with some of the biggest corporations in the country. These connections could open doors to careers outside of sports, providing long-term benefits even after graduation.
Fairness in Action
Here’s how the new Title IX rules ensure fairness in NIL opportunities:
Equal Publicity: If football players are featured in a car dealership commercial, the school must also include women athletes, such as volleyball players, cheerleaders, or soccer players, in similar opportunities.
Social Media Sponsorships: A company promoting athletic gear on Instagram can’t just focus on male athletes. Schools must help connect female athletes, like softball players, to similar sponsorships.
The goal is simple: if men’s sports have opportunities to earn money, women’s sports must have equal access.
Supporting Women Athletes
Colleges also have to provide the same resources to all athletes, regardless of gender. For example:
Training for NIL Deals: Schools might teach women softball players how to promote products online or give volleyball players tips for appearing in commercials.
Career Networking: NIL deals can be more than just a paycheck. By working with major brands, women athletes can build professional connections that could lead to future careers.
Marketing Help: Universities could connect women athletes with businesses interested in sponsoring them.
These resources help women athletes make the most of their time in college sports, both on and off the field.
The Bigger Picture
Volleyball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading may not always get the spotlight that football does, but the athletes in these sports work just as hard. The updated Title IX rules ensure women in college sports have a fair shot to earn money, gain recognition, and build connections that could shape their futures.
This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about creating opportunities for women to succeed on the field, in their communities, and in their careers. With equal treatment in NIL deals, college becomes not only a place to play sports but also a springboard to success in life.
Link to Department of Education Fact Sheet: https://www.ed.gov/media/document/ocr-factsheet-benefits-student-athletes
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