Not too long ago, college athletes were missing out on the luxuries they now enjoy thanks to the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. This change has made a significant impact, which was felt when rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entered the WNBA. These young stars had already established themselves as brands, boasting impressive popularity among fans even before stepping onto the professional stage. However, a former NBA player highlighted an interesting aspect of this transition that he finds astonishing.

Matt Barnes made an appearance on Now It’s Legal with Jim Cavale, where he delved into the shifting college sports landscape following the introduction of NIL in 2021. During the conversation, Barnes couldn’t help but shine a spotlight on women’s basketball, sharing what he described as “crazy” in the sport while talking about players staying in college with NIL benefits.

“On the women’s side, you know, the women are staying long. See the Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. They’re coming into their professional sports taking a pay cut, which is crazy. I mean, they’re leaving college and taking a pay cut to play in the W,” stated Barnes.

While Barnes’ bold statement reflects Clark and Reese had to sacrifice their wages to join the WNBA, it is not what the rookies had revealed earlier.

“People assumed I’d face a significant pay cut leaving college. In reality, I wasn’t paid in college, so my WNBA salary feels like a bonus. Earning $75,000 for a few months of play, along with my endorsements, is a plus. I play because I genuinely love basketball,” Reese had stated earlier.

It’s worth noting that her NIL valuation was already over a million dollars, significantly higher than her average annual WNBA salary of $81,096 based on her four-year contract. Despite transitioning to the professional league, she continues to enjoy the perks of her NIL deals, racking up multiple endorsements that enhance her income and keep her connected to the sport she loves.

Even Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary is significantly lower than her NIL valuation, which soared over $3 million during her time at Iowa. Her net worth has seen impressive growth, approaching $4 million since joining the league. When announcing her move to the WNBA, she noted, “I think people don’t understand that NIL is still a thing when you get into pro sports too.”

However, Charisma Osborne stands out as a player who opted to spend an additional year in college basketball, a choice she attributes to the financial opportunities. She shared, “Being able to make money made the decision a lot easier.” This trend underscores a larger reality: college athletes are now raking in astonishing sums at a young age, which, combined with newfound fame, brings its own set of responsibilities.

While Matt Barnes’ comments about rookies facing pay cuts may not fully reflect the star rookies’ perspectives, he had earlier taken a jab at the NCAA as well, labeling them as “crooked.”

During his appearance on the same episode of the Now It’s Legal with Jim Cavale podcast, the former Los Angeles Lakers forward answered a question about how he plans to guide his children to avoid the challenges he faced while growing up in the league. Well, Barnes provided a thoughtful yet pointed response that seemed to take aim at the NCAA and the current NIL system.

“The NCAA has always kind of been crooked when it comes to, I guess sharing the wealth, for a lack of a better word. You know all the money that stand-out athletes have made schools over the years and you know there’s actual number now to kind of show that and the athletes never got a cut. So now again that could be coming through the same pipeline that I missed out on, I definitely want to be prepared, one, but two, if there is anything that I can do to help is definitely one of my focusses when it comes to that,” said Barnes.

The NCAA has encountered significant criticism regarding its seemingly outdated structure in recent years. While the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for student-athletes in 2021 marked a major milestone, allowing players to earn from endorsements and sponsorships, many critics argue that the system remains flawed. They contend that sponsorship opportunities often favor certain athletes, leaving many deserving players without the financial support they deserve.

Well, Barnes believes this can be figured out only “if some of the athletes really take that stand.” As the landscape of college athletics transforms, the challenge remains for athletes to navigate this new system effectively. While NIL has created opportunities, achieving fairness and equity in endorsements is crucial for all players.