NIL Opportunity Index: The Case for Women's Lacrosse

What's the NIL opportunity index?

I regularly provide my brand clients with information on NIL opportunities that my data suggests are undervalued. I've decided to share some of that info here from time to time.

The case for women's lacrosse

Most brands chasing NIL opportunities in non-revenue sports are overlooking one of the best cost-per-engagement plays in college athletics. It's not women's soccer or volleyball. It's women's lacrosse.

Why it matters

Brands waste budget on sports with name recognition but poor activation metrics. My NIL Research Poll reveals women's lacrosse athletes deliver measurably better ROI than their peers—and they're drastically undervalued.

Engagement metrics

Women's lacrosse athletes average more Instagram followers and posts per week than almost all other women athletes. Their engagement rate is higher than women's soccer and volleyball.

Deal performance

78% of women's lacrosse athletes report "delivering on all commitments" vs. 62% across non-revenue sports. Brand partners gave them 4.6/5 satisfaction scores. Most telling: 41% have secured repeat deals—the market's vote of confidence.

Professionalism

They treat NIL like a job: 83% read contracts before signing, only 12% missed deliverables (vs. 27% average.)

Market dynamics & activation

Here's the opportunity: Average deal value is 40% lower than comparable engagement in other sports. They're underpriced. 72% report being "very comfortable" creating original content.

Demographic appeal

Their fan base skews female, 18-34 years old, with household incomes above $75K. Geographic concentration in Northeast/Mid-Atlantic markets.

The bottom line

If you're a brand looking for authentic reach in the women's sports space without paying premium prices, this is your opportunity.

About Bill Carter

Bill has advised brands on Name, Image, Likeness for 25 years—first in pro sports, now at the college level. He was the Co-Founder of the Gen Z sports agency Fuse, which he sold in 2019. In 2020, he founded Student-Athlete Insights and consults on NIL strategy with Fortune 500 companies and 30+ DI universities. Read more about Student-Athlete Insights.

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