[chimera]

I don't get the don't go pro, you will lose NIL money idea for top players.  If Clark goes pro, she can still get endorsements.  She can probably get even more of them and would have more time for them without school.  Her Iowa fans will still follow her and a bunch of new fans will see her play for their team as a pro.  Top pros get a lot of money for endorsements, which is what NIL is.  It may make sense for a player who will be a marginal pro or cut and never make the league to stay in school and get whatever NIL money she can, since she probably won't attract many endorsements after school.  Then again, a player who will be a marginal pro probably is not pulling down a lot of NIL money in college unless she is a social media whiz, and if that is so, she can continue to be a social media whiz after school too and devote even more time to doing that.  Or get a "real" job and keep doing the influencer thing.  There are plenty of people who make money just by being social media influencers.   

So I don't get this whole don't go pro, you only get your salary idea - in theory someone who is a good NIL candidate is also a good candidate for endorsements as a pro.  Salary plus endorsements for a top pro should be > NIL for a college player.  How much has let's say Candace Parker made in endorsements in the past few years or over her career?  Also, WNBA salary goes up as your career continues.  Not going pro you may have one fewer year in you as a player.  The one year salary you won't get is the one at the top of the scale, not the rookie salary.

[chimera]

I don't get the don't go pro, you will lose NIL money idea for top players.  If Clark goes pro, she can still get endorsements.  She can probably get even more of them and would have more time for them without school.  Her Iowa fans will still follow her and a bunch of new fans will see her play for their team as a pro.  Top pros get a lot of money for endorsements, which is what NIL is.  It may make sense for a player who will be a marginal pro or cut and never make the league to stay in school and get whatever NIL money she can, since she probably won't attract many endorsements after school.  Then again, a player who will be a marginal pro probably is not pulling down a lot of NIL money in college unless she is a social media whiz, and if that is so, she can continue to be a social media whiz after school too and devote even more time to doing that.  Or get a "real" job and keep doing the influencer thing.  There are plenty of people who make money just by being social media influencers.   

So I don't get this whole don't go pro, you only get your salary idea - in theory someone who is a good NIL candidate is also a good candidate for endorsements as a pro.  Salary plus endorsements for a top pro should be > NIL for a college player.  How much has let's say Candace Parker made in endorsements in the past few years or over her career?  Also, WNBA salary goes up as your career continues.  Not going pro you may have one fewer year in you as a player.  The one year salary you won't get is the one at the top of the scale, not the rookie salary.