Once upon a locker room, college athletes were just... athletes. Then came the storm—the NIL wave. In 2021, the NCAA cracked the vault, and by 2025, it’s a full-blown gold rush. NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are no longer just side hustles; they’re empires in the making. College stars are now CEOs of personal brands before even stepping onto a pro stage.

As of 2025, over $1.4 billion has flowed through NIL agreements in the U.S., with top athletes pulling in seven figures annually—not from touchdowns or dunks, but from TikToks, merch drops, livestreams, and yes, even anonymous video chats. Want proof? Here's the roll call.

https://justwomenssports.com/reads/ten-female-college-athletes-with-the-highest-nil-potential/

1. Liv James – LSU Gymnastics Queen
She's not just flipping on the mat; she’s flipping sponsorships into stacked bank accounts. Liv James has netted over $3.2 million in NIL earnings in 2025, partnering with luxury athleisure lines, protein snack companies, and—wildly enough—hosting anonymous Q&As on video chat apps where fans "guess the athlete." It’s weird, viral, and bankable.

2. Marcus "Flex" Johnson – Alabama Football WR
Built like a statue, runs like a whisper—Flex has nearly 5 million followers across platforms and drops weekly content on apps for anonymous group chats, where he lets fans vote on plays he should replicate in practice. NIL earnings? North of $4.5 million, making him the highest-paid college football player this year.

In fact, the stars of college teams are the future stars of world tournaments. If you can recognize talent early on and get lucky, you can make a fortune. Where to get such insights? Forums, personal communication and anonymous video chats. It could be Chatrandom or CallMeChat, they just connect you with people. If you find the right people and form a complete picture, then it's just a matter of technique to find those very stars of the next seasons and even make money on it.

3. Naomi Torres – UCLA Soccer Powerhouse
Naomi doesn’t just score goals; she scores branding wins. With bilingual appeal and sharp content strategy, she’s brought in deals from international beverage giants and fashion-forward sneaker brands. In 2025, she pulled in $2.8 million, including a campaign where she secretly joined an anonymous chat to discuss “how to survive athletic heartbreak.” It became an underground sensation.

4. Caleb Rhodes – UNC Basketball Star
Every dunk is a dollar. Every missed free throw? A meme. Caleb embraced the chaos. His most lucrative NIL activity in 2025? A collaboration with an anonymous video chat app where users guessed which game moment he was reenacting in real time—masked, of course. It was absurd and somehow earned him $3 million this year alone.

5. Elena Ha – Stanford Swimmer & NFT Enthusiast
Elena went digital. From limited-run swimsuits designed by AI to anonymous group discussions about mental health in sports, she’s redefined what NIL can mean. With over $2 million in NIL deals in 2025, including a wellness series hosted in anonymous video chats (yep, underwater soundscapes included), she’s as niche as it gets—and it works.

6. Jalen Vick – Ohio State Quarterback
Classic football royalty. But Jalen’s not just selling cleats—he’s monetizing vulnerability. He’s hosted anonymous mental health circles via apps for anonymous group chats where student-athletes can talk freely. A rare move, but it resonated deeply, earning both respect and a $3.7 million NIL pot this year.

7. Kendall Rye – USC Volleyball Prodigy
Fashion meets spike. Kendall has partnered with multiple clean beauty brands, launched her own eco-friendly shoe line, and is a rising TikTok force. Her most unorthodox strategy? “Guess My Mood” video chats with fans—fully anonymous, unscripted, and viral. She’s expected to close 2025 with $2.5 million in NIL revenue.

8. Tariq Benson – Oregon Track Star
Blink and you’ll miss him. Tariq uses his speed to power challenges on anonymous group chats: “Beat my 100m dash at home” series turned into a movement, landing him sponsorships with fitness tracker companies and VR wellness brands. He’s clocked over $2.9 million in 2025 NIL earnings and shows no signs of slowing.

9. Jade Minh – UConn Tennis Phenom
Jade turned her backhand into a brand. Her clever angle? Relationship advice in anonymous video chats. "How to ace love" went viral, and suddenly her NIL inbox was flooded. With deals from lifestyle brands and dating apps, she netted $2.3 million this year.

10. Zion Delgado – Miami Esports & MMA Crossover
Zion is a hybrid athlete. He games, he fights, and he vlogs. His anonymous chat-based gaming breakdowns are a cult hit, with fans trying to ID him through gameplay alone. Mix that with a couple of gymwear and energy drink partnerships, and he's raked in $2.1 million this year.

Final Serve
Ten athletes. Millions earned. New rules, new platforms, new hustle. The NIL game isn’t just about who can sell the most jerseys—it’s about who can own the narrative, the screen time, and even the anonymous chatrooms. These ten are not just athletes. They’re content creators, brand managers, and marketing masterminds.

And if you're still wondering where the next wave of influence is brewing? Look behind the mask. That anonymous video feed? It might just be your favorite college star planning their next million.