Texas Tech women’s basketball players to receive $25K NIL deals

Texas Tech women’s basketball players will receive $25,000 each in name, image and likeness contracts through a Level 13 agency based in Lubbock, Texas.

This is believed to be one of the largest team-wide NIL contracts in college women’s sports.

Earlier this month, the Matador Club, the collective that supports Texas Tech’s track and field, announced that all 100 members of Texas Tech’s football team would sign one-year, $25,000 NIL contracts. At the time, the Matador Club said a similar deal would be made for its men’s basketball and baseball programs.

One of the Matador Club’s board members, Mark McDougal, is also one of two owners of Level 13, an agency that claims to “understand the relationship between marketing, fundraising and talent management.”

Under Texas law, schools cannot be involved in NIL transactions, so outside organizations such as the Matador Club and Level 13 are involved.

Another Level 13 owner, Kirk Noles, said on the Black Label Radio podcast that it’s important that Texas Tech’s female and male athletes are supported by NIL contracts.

Texas Tech won the 1993 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship under Hall of Famer Cheryl Swoopes and current Lady Raiders coach Christa Gerlich, and has made 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. However, the program has struggled in recent years and has not made an NCAA field since 2013.

Texas Tech went 11-18 overall and 4-14 in the Big 12 last season.

“It was such an inspiring day to do something for this program,” said Knowles. I can’t stress enough how many people have come together to specifically support the Lady…Raider program.”

Former Texas Tech and current Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted in response NIL Contract for Women’s Basketball Team “Doing it right! #WreckEm”.