Red Bull Signs First NIL Deal with South Carolina Freshman Star Fulwiley
Red Bull hasn’t participated in the Name, Image and Likeness space - until March Madness.
Earlier this week Red Bull, one of the world’s most popular energy drink brands, announced its first NIL deal with any college athlete, and the brand picked a good one — South Carolina freshman sensation MiLaysia Fulwiley.
She’s emerged as one of college basketball’s rising stars in her first season, as the Gamecocks are undefeated and the No. 1 overall seed going into the NCAA Women’s Tournament, which starts on Friday.
The guard is local, as she grew up in Columbia, S.C. and Head coach Dawn Staley and her staff kept home after her stellar career at W.J. Keenan High School, where she was a McDonald’s All-American and a three-time South Carolina Player of the Year.
She was so good that she was promoted to her high school’s varsity program in the seventh grade, won four state titles and scored more than 3,000 career points.
Fulwiley and Red Bull announced the partnership on Instagram.
“She shoots, scores and is destined to soar,” Red Bull touted the partnership in the caption.
Fulwiley will be paid to promote Red Bull and will host events in South Carolina touting the brand. She will also be able to visit Red Bull’s performance center and access the brand’s platforms in fashion, music and extreme sports.
In her first season with the Gamecocks she averaged 11.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals. In her last game, the SEC Tournament championship game, Fulwiley scored 24 points in just 17 minutes in a 79-72 win over LSU, earning SEC Tournament MVP honors.
She's also been on a roll in NIL, signing recent deals with Stephen Curry's Curry Brand - the first college athlete to do so - in addition to a partnership with Mr. Seafood, to create her own sauce.
With an expected strong NCAA Tournament performance ahead, the NIL sky is the limit for Fulwiley.
