The NIL Edge – September 11th, 2025
The NIL Edge - Weekly Updates 9.11.2025
Professional sports are no longer defined only by the “big four” leagues. Emerging and niche sports are experiencing a surge in investment, expansion, media coverage, and athlete empowerment. From new women’s basketball formats to pay-equity battles in netball and investor bets on unconventional sports like volleyball and tag, the last week has shown that momentum is accelerating.
For professional athletes competing in these spaces, the opportunities to grow their brand, secure new revenue streams, and leverage their image are greater than ever. Here are some of the most important developments from just the past seven days.
Recent Developments
1. Unrivaled League Valuation & Expansion
The super exciting professional 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, announced a new valuation of $340 million following its Series B funding round.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/eafe5db556b593ed1680c7a886973b27
On top of that, Unrivaled is expanding sooner than planned: adding two new teams (Breeze BC and Hive BC), bringing in twelve new roster spots (bringing total players to 48), plus a development pool for injury relief, a key issue playing the WNBA right now.
Why it matters: For professional athletes in niche/basketball formats outside the traditional WNBA/NBA system, this means more teams, more roster spots, potentially more visibility, more pay leverage, and higher value for NIL style/promotion rights within league structure.
2. Historic Pay Increase for Australian Netball (The Diamonds)
Netball Australia and the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) agreed on a new three-year collective player agreement that gives the national team (the Diamonds) a 40% pay raise. They also introduced, for the first time, a share of revenue from sponsorships, broadcasts, and events.
Why it matters: Revenue-sharing with pro athletes in niche sports is relatively rare globally. This sets a precedent for how athletes in smaller or less commercialized sports can demand a share not only of pay but of ancillary revenues (broadcast, sponsorship). It strengthens negotiating power for athletes in other sports like netball, squash, etc.
3. Investor Interest in Niche Sports Increasing
This is big. A recent Economist article highlighted that investors are increasingly putting money into niche sport, everything from volleyball to “tag” (World Chase Tag is an example).
Why it matters: In addition to money, investor capital can bring marketing infrastructure, media rights, better pay, and better facilities. If niche sports can prove scalability or fan interest, their athletes may get access to better NIL / endorsement deals, or even league shares / equity stakes.
Implications & Edge Insights
So what does all this mean? Some athletes in niche professional sports can get a real edge:
First-mover advantage: Athletes joining newer or expanding leagues early (e.g. Unrivaled’s expansion) get better positioning for promotional deals, more ownership/stake, possibly higher visibility as foundational players.
Revenue sharing / collective bargaining in niche sports: The netball deal shows that even in less globally visible sports, athletes are pushing for and obtaining structures that ensure they benefit from growth (broadcasts, sponsorships). Expect similar models in sports where governance supports collective bargaining or athlete unions.
Valuation growth translates into athlete leverage: When leagues are valued in the hundreds of millions, investors expect returns. No free lunches. But that puts pressure on the league to promote players and monetize athlete personalities, which can increase NIL or endorsement income opportunities.
Expansion and development pools = more professional roles: New teams, development / recovery pools etc. create roles, roster depth, more athletes getting paid, not just stars.
Media & investor attention raise visibility: Once investors and media outlets place big bets (e.g. high valuation, funding rounds), public attention follows. That tends to attract sponsors looking for narratives, which elevates individual athletes’ promotional value.
Conclusion
Pro athletes in niche sports are operating in a rapidly changing environment. Expansion, collective bargaining, and rising investor interest all create fertile ground for new earning opportunities. Those who align with growth leagues, negotiate beyond base salaries, and cultivate personal brands that will be well positioned to capitalize.
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