Fourteen of college basketball’s biggest stars are now in Miami for “The Future is Unrivaled Summit,” taking part in skill development and networking sessions from July 31 to August 2. Unrivaled announced NIL partnerships with these top players last month, including Azzi Fudd, Flau’jae Johnson, and JuJu Watkins.
These rising stars include national champions and award winners who represent the future of women’s basketball. The 3-on-3 professional league signed the players to get them ready for competition after finishing their college careers.
Elite Talent Pipeline: Future Professional Stars
The list includes players from powerhouse programs like UConn, UCLA, LSU, and USC across all major conferences.
Azzi Fudd: UConn graduate student and 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Flau’jae Johnson: LSU senior, 2023 NCAA Champion and third-team All-American.
JuJu Watkins: USC junior and 2025 National Player of the Year.
Sarah Strong: UConn sophomore and 2025 WBCA Freshman of the Year.
Hannah Hidalgo: Notre Dame sophomore and 2025 ACC Player of the Year.
Lauren Betts: UCLA senior and 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Madison Booker: Texas junior and 2025 SEC Player of the Year.
Kiki Rice: UCLA senior and 2025 First-team All-Big Ten selection.
MiLaysia Fulwiley: LSU junior transfer from South Carolina.
Audi Crooks: Iowa State sophomore and Big 12 standout.
Ta’Niya Latson: South Carolina senior and 3× First-team All-ACC selection.
Olivia Miles: TCU senior transfer from Notre Dame.
Syla Swords: Michigan sophomore and Big Ten talent.
Sienna Betts: UCLA freshman and the only incoming freshman in the class.
These college players signed NIL partnerships but will compete after finishing their college careers, likely joining Unrivaled in 2026 or when they come to the WNBA.
What These NIL Deals Mean for College Basketball
Apart from the NIL deals, they give athletes professional development through training sessions, content creation, and media training.
The current Miami summit brings together 14 future stars for skill development and team-building activities with professional coaches and league staff. The timing lets college stars build league relationships while keeping their amateur status.
These college signings will help Unrivaled keep a strong talent pipeline as the league grows. The investment shows the league wants to grow women’s basketball while giving college athletes new opportunities to develop their skills before joining the WNBA.
Players like Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, fresh off winning the 2025 NCAA Championship, now have guaranteed pathways to professional careers with salaries that exceed most WNBA contracts.
The Unrivaled court looks good on @azzi_35 😌 pic.twitter.com/tMO4ZUVkD2
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) July 31, 2025
Unrivaled’s strategy creates competition for overseas leagues that traditionally attracted American players during the WNBA offseason.
The early investment in relationships and development gives both sides advantages that could reshape how women’s basketball talent moves from college to professional careers.
