In a move that sent shockwaves through the college basketball world, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has reportedly pulled off the impossible — securing a blockbuster NIL partnership with none other than Paige Bueckers, the face of UConn women’s basketball.
While Bueckers is expected to declare for the upcoming WNBA Draft, sources close to the situation say Staley’s deal includes a historic NIL collaboration that could see Bueckers don the Garnet and Black — if only for a short run before the pros.
“It’s the most stunning NIL play we’ve seen in women’s basketball,” said one NCAA insider. “Staley just outmaneuvered UConn with a chess move nobody saw coming.”
Though UConn head coach Geno Auriemma has not commented publicly, insiders claim he was “blindsided” by the development and is “furious” over what many are calling a golden heist.
The rumored deal, backed by South Carolina-based brand partnerships and a massive media platform, would make Bueckers the highest-paid NIL athlete in women’s hoops — and potentially place her in a Gamecocks jersey for a headline-grabbing exhibition tour this summer.
Whether Bueckers suits up for South Carolina or not, the message is clear: Dawn Staley plays to win — on and off the court.
Stay tuned. This saga is just heating up.
