Recall the moment when Megan Rapinoe stated, “Despite all the wins, I’m still paid less than men who do the same job that I do.” This statement positioned her as a leading voice in the fight for pay equity in sports, especially concerning the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Even after retirement, she continues to shed light on these issues without holding back. Naturally, when discussing contracts and salaries in the sports world, Rapinoe is certainly cognizant of the growing influence of NIL.

But guess what? Recall how Rapinoe earned $447,000 from NWSL when she was with OL Reign. However, apart from her five-figure league salary, she’s also a proponent for NIL so that athletes get compensated what they’re worth. In a recent interview with CBS Mornings, available on YouTube, the soccer legend discussed NIL, remarking, “Yeah, there’s a ton of room for growth. I mean, the thing about the compensation is they’re under an agreement. They’re under a collective bargaining agreement. And you know, those get renegotiated when they get renegotiated. It doesn’t always go in real time.”

She noted that the current model of compensation didn’t account for the real-time changes that should make a difference for athletes, monetarily. Because the pay is set under a CBA, changes to compensation can be slow to occur because it isn’t every day you can renegotiate a CBA. Her support stems from the rapid expansion of NIL opportunities in contrast to the more inflexible nature of league contracts.

“I feel like NIL happened so quickly, and especially when it was college basketball, but that happened so quickly. Sponsorships can happen so quickly. They’re not under the same sort of restrictions, basically. So I know the WCBA; they’ll start negotiating this year for a new contract next year. The NWSL is under a new CBA. So that takes a little bit longer. The structure’s a little bit different, but as that’s happened, players’ compensations off the field has exploded, and that’s a great sign for what’s gonna come in these next contracts,” Rapinoe stated.

NIL deals, particularly in college basketball, have experienced a significant surge without the imposition of restrictions, enabling athletes to swiftly leverage sponsorship opportunities. Rapinoe recognized that although the NWSL has recently revised its collective bargaining agreement, the framework of these contracts naturally hampers the acceleration of salary increases when the players deserve it. What effects has NIL had on women’s soccer?

NIL is providing opportunities just like Megan Rapinoe said

Megan Rapinoe pointed out that in women’s soccer, NIL deals are still developing but are starting to reflect the overall expansion of the sport. Among the standout stories is that of McKenna “Mak” Whitham, a 14-year-old youth soccer player who captured attention last year by securing a historic NIL deal with Nike.

The transaction marked a milestone as the youngest athlete in any sport to achieve this feat. It’s a remarkable milestone, but what did she have to say about it?

“It means everything to me. I’m just super excited to be part of the Nike family. They’ve done so many great things so far. And it motivates me even harder. I mean, not every kid gets to get signed by Nike,” Whitham remarked. Even before setting foot in college, her agreement highlights the promising commercial opportunities recognized in top-tier soccer talents.

At the collegiate level, female athletes from prestigious institutions such as UNC, Stanford, and UCLA are starting to secure regional sponsorships, training gear agreements, and social media endorsements. However, these deals have yet to reach the multi-million-dollar valuations observed in basketball. There is always an opportunity for growth, and only time will reveal how NIL will enhance women’s soccer.