Zia Cooke a guard for the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, is one of the highest-paid athletes in college basketball.
“It just shows that we can do a lot of things that a lot of people say we can’t do,” Cooke told CBS News. “To see all the girls on there for the NIL and I think it was just one boy it shows that we can do literally everything they can do. It’s a business and it’s super effective for women and men.”
Cooke has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, she reportedly makes approx. $8,000 for every ad she posts on her page. The basketball star has partnered with multiple brands including H&R Block.
“It gave me a chance to show who I am for one minute,” she said. “I’ve done DoorDash, which was also super fun. I did Bojangles deals and I’ve done Fenty Skin, Rihanna’s line, so I have quite a bit and it’s just the beginning. I’m excited for what else is in store.”
Cooke is one of many college athletes who have been benefitting from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2021 that allows student-athletes to control their name, image, and likeness and earn from it. Although she earns her own money, she is still more focused on improving her skills and her brand.
“I really don’t even want to know how much money I have,” she said. “I haven’t looked at the account since I’ve started. Now I’m just trying to stay focused on my best work… I want to save because once you see the prices like you want to buy stuff like that.”
Cooke is the leading scorer for the team, became a national champion after South Carolina won the 2022 NCAA tournament.
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