First to Jordan’s Brand, Exploring Kiki Rice’s NIL Deals

Kiki Rice is one of the best American college basketball players. Currently playing for the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference as a point guard, she’s keeping the fans on their toes with her impressive shooting ability and talent. Watching her outstanding performances since she stepped into the world of college sports, fans could not help but be awed by her skills, which made many wonder about her NIL deals and earnings.

The introduction of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in the world of college sports served as a huge change in their landscape. This deal allows young athletes to make money off their influence, name, image, and several other factors. And several athletes are for sure making the best out of it. 

Beyond the buzzer

The Bruins star made her debut last year as she recorded 12 points and 7 assists in a match against Cal Poly, and since then there has been no looking back for her. Over the years, Kiki has secured deals with several big companies. According to On3 Elite, she has deals with companies like Hibbett Sports, Dove, Dream in Black, and many more. Her most recent partnership was with Beats by Dre, adding another sweet deal to her bag. 

But her one of the best and most proudest partnerships is with the Jordan Brand. In October last year, she signed a deal with the brand which made her the first athlete to ever do so. “Being Jordan Brand’s first NIL athlete is an incredible milestone, and I think it’s a testament to the hard work I’ve put in and all the people around me who have helped me get to this point. Signing with the Jordan Brand is another motivating factor for me to continue to work hard and achieve my goals,” Rice said in a statement. 

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Although Rice has secured a deal with several big companies, her NIL valuation remains a mystery due to the private nature of her contacts with them. Rice is currently just a sophomore and if she decides to stay in college till her senior year, she will only be adding more to her NIL value bag. With every deal she secures, Kiki Rice isn’t just solidifying her financial future; she’s setting a precedent for athletes to leverage their influence. Notably, Kiki Rice is sending shockwaves in the world in the ongoing 2023-24 NCAA season. 

How has she performed so far?

With Kiki Rice as their star guard and securing the No.1 recruit, Lauren Betts to fill their void of a center, the Bruins are having one of their best seasons so far. They have played eleven matches so far out of which they have won all eleven with an average score difference of 30.4 points per game, where Rice is averaging 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.  

Her most standout performance was against Cal State Northridge where Rice came almost within a whisper’s reach of recording a quadruple-double as they ended the game with a final score of 111-48. “It was our most complete night of playing to get better and not playing the score and just competing all the way through. It was the first time we hit all four of our goals, from turnovers to defending without fouling to passion plays to rebounding percentages,” the UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close said in a post-game interview with ESPN.  

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As the season continues, the Bruins’ undefeated record so far showcases the crucial part Rice is playing for them. Fans will be keeping their eye on her to watch how her story unfolds in the upcoming matches and seasons.