The Massachusetts Collective signs UMass women's basketball team
The Massachusetts Collective announced Wednesday it signed every member of the UMass women’s basketball team to name, image and likeness agreements for custom merchandise. All 14 players on the team partnered with the NIL collective.
“We’re excited to be working with the entire roster in a first of its kind deal at UMass,” The Massachusetts Collective Director Patrick MacWilliams said in a statement. “We presented the idea to the team Friday, and here we are five days later with a unique approach that directly benefits all players. Getting a deal done with 14 people normally isn’t easy, but this was, which speaks to how tight knit and in lockstep this team is.”
The custom merchandise will feature caricatures of the UMass players. T-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts and posters will be available through the NIL deals. Posters are available for $35 and signed posters cost $129. T-shirts are $35 and sweatshirts are $65.
The website says 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the athletes.
“This is another example of the power of NIL to create something the school can’t, while producing income for players and unique items for fans,” MacWilliams said. “We don’t want to be cookie cutter in our approach. So far the Collective has focused on finding ways to have fun, share team spirit and benefit the players. We hope fans will support us by purchasing these items that help support the players. We want everyone — students, alums, fans of all sorts — to get involved by engaging with the team and the Collective.”
The Massachusetts Collective creates NIL opportunities for UMass players
The Massachusetts Collective launched in October 2022. The collective provides NIL opportunities for UMass men’s and women’s basketball players. It operates as a limited liability company.
McWilliams previously said the collective would have a 90-percent focus on UMass men’s basketball players but its latest announcement shows its impact on the women’s basketball program. He said The Massachusetts Collective’s plan was to sign three to five men’s basketball players per season.
In January, The Massachusetts Collective partnered with UMass forward Sam Breen, the reigning A-10 Player of the Year. With the help of the collective, she launched a line of basketball-shaped dog treats, called “Turbo’s Treats”, in honor of her dog Turbo.
A press release said all of the proceeds will benefit the Dakin Humane Society.
Breen is currently leading the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game. She’s one of four players who are averaging double figures.
UMass has a 23-4 record this season, including a 13-1 record in the A-10. The team is riding a 12-game winning streak, dating back to Jan. 7.