Category Archives: News

Illinois Basketball: NFTs are the next step in Illini NIL growth

by Zain Bando Illinois basketball is taking the next step in NIL endorsements with the NextName NFT partnership. The Illini are off to a fast start at 6-2, as it remained at No. 16 in the fourth week of the AP Top 25. Coupled with the on-court success also comes future marketing opportunities for the program. Illinois’ athletic department has been […]

Chicago Tribune: Father and son create platform for University of Illinois athletes to receive compensation by selling NFTs of themselves

Steve Thayer (right) and his son Ryan Thayer founded NextName to sell digital collectible images of college athletes and teams, which provide a financial support to players.

By Myrna Petlicki, Pioneer Press, Dec 04, 2022 Steve Thayer and his son Ryan Thayer wanted to offer financial help to athletes from their alma mater, the University of Illinois. They found the answer when a Supreme Court ruling last year allowed college athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, or […]

NextName signs Illinois men’s basketball team to NIL deals

Illinois Mens basketball

Pete Nakos • 10/18/22 Illinois men’s basketball has entered the NFT space. The entire Fighting Illini team has inked NIL deals with NextName, a company that creates digital collectibles. The men’s basketball program is not the first Illinois team to sign with NextName. The Fighting Illini football, women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s […]

Two Naperville college athletes sign with NextName

Illinois Womens Volleyball Classic Team Token

Now, fans can support them directly with unique digital collectibles Ann Pitcher, patch.com Naperville residents and University of Illinois volleyball players Sophie Gregus and Caroline Barnes have jumped into the new NIL space by officially signing a ‘name, image, likeness’ (NIL) deal with NextName. NextName offers fans the opportunity to support them through the sale […]

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