[cardfan1996]

If Betts is banking on =>$400k+, then she has to be the only star or one of two stars on an SEC/Big10 team. It’s not like EVERY player is making 6 figures; it’s usually just one star player. Azzi and Paige are the exception.

The landscape is changing though, especially given the ratings/viewership of the tournament and the growing popularity of the game. Next year has Clark, Bueckers, Brink, and Reese - all highly popular players - coming back and there are tons of young stars in the pipeline. It's going to continue to grow. It's probably a smart investment for universities/NIL collectives and rich boosters to put up some money now to get a game changer like Betts to transfer in. The return on investment for $500K could be a major win down the road. It'd be interesting to know how much in total went in to building that LSU team, from Mulkey on down. That's why I think she's going to end up at a place that understands the money game and knows what they're doing.

Oh Mulkey definitely leaped into #3 best WBB all time after Geno and Pat this year. She solidified her place comfortably in the 3 spot but here are some of the reasons I think she has been so successful:

1) Her energy with the fans, media and recruits. She is quite entertaining if you watch her press conferences. She literally sings and dances. Some would call her eccentric with all the clown wardrobe on the sidelines but she understands how to grow a fanbase and interest in WBB. 

2) She is adaptable and brings in elite basketball minds to coach along side her (she is not afraid or intimidated by bringing in people who can teach her). Baylor’s defense was always great. Their offense was another story. Kim hired one of the best Xs and Os people in the business in Bob Starkey to join her at LSU. On that championship Texas A&M team that beat us in the Final Four Nneka’s senior year, Vic Schafer was A&M’s “Minister of Defense.” Guess who coached the offense? Bob. Kim often brought him in on conference calls with the media and they do them together. She is inclusive and has a brilliant mind for the game within the game. Don’t let that little country girl act fool you. She is a chess player.

3) She focuses 100% on basketball. She hired someone else (ex-Baylor staff) to deal exclusively with Nil partnerships and her players. Kim doesn’t even understand the rules.


As for WBB viewership, a lot of that was driven by Caitlin Clark and her crossover appeal, not WBB generally. It is on the rise but there has to be continued marketable generational talent that is replacing generational talent. There is no guarantee year to year.

[cardfan1996]

If Betts is banking on =>$400k+, then she has to be the only star or one of two stars on an SEC/Big10 team. It’s not like EVERY player is making 6 figures; it’s usually just one star player. Azzi and Paige are the exception.

The landscape is changing though, especially given the ratings/viewership of the tournament and the growing popularity of the game. Next year has Clark, Bueckers, Brink, and Reese - all highly popular players - coming back and there are tons of young stars in the pipeline. It's going to continue to grow. It's probably a smart investment for universities/NIL collectives and rich boosters to put up some money now to get a game changer like Betts to transfer in. The return on investment for $500K could be a major win down the road. It'd be interesting to know how much in total went in to building that LSU team, from Mulkey on down. That's why I think she's going to end up at a place that understands the money game and knows what they're doing.

Oh Mulkey definitely leaped into #3 best WBB all time after Geno and Pat this year. She solidified her place comfortably in the 3 spot but here are some of the reasons I think she has been so successful:

1) Her energy with the fans, media and recruits. She is quite entertaining if you watch her press conferences. She literally sings and dances. Some would call her eccentric with all the clown wardrobe on the sidelines but she understands how to grow a fanbase and interest in WBB. 

2) She is adaptable and brings in elite basketball minds to coach along side her (she is not afraid or intimidated by bringing in people who can teach her). Baylor’s defense was always great. Their offense was another story. Kim hired one of the best Xs and Os people in the business in Bob Starkey to join her at LSU. On that championship Texas A&M team that beat us in the Final Four Nneka’s senior year, Vic Schafer was A&M’s “Minister of Defense.” Guess who coached the offense? Bob. Kim often brought him in on conference calls with the media and they do them together. She is inclusive and has a brilliant mind for the game within the game. Don’t let that little country girl act fool you. She is a chess player.

3) She focuses 100% on basketball. She hired someone else (ex-Baylor staff) to deal exclusively with Nil partnerships and her players. Kim doesn’t even understand the rules.


As for WBB viewership, a lot of that was driven by Caitlin Clark and her crossover appeal, not WBB generally. It is on the rise but there has to be continued marketable generational talent that is replacing generational talent. There is no guarantee year to year.