LSU continues to find itself at the epicenter of NIL in college sports, and women’s basketball guard [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] has landed an exciting opportunity.
Van Lith, who is partnered with Adidas and is one of the first athletes the brand signed after the advent of NIL, will appear in its commercial for March Madness, which is set to “Under Pressure” by Queen.
“As athletes navigate high-stake sport moments throughout their careers, it can be difficult to cope with the weight of expectations. Our focus is helping these athletes re-capture the joy they have playing sports,” Adidas Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing Chris Murphy said, according to Sports Ilustrated.
“In partnership with Hailey Van Lith, we’re inspiring the next generation of athletes, and helping them get back to why they started playing sports in the first place – to have fun.”
Van Lith is a transfer addition from Louisville who has played a major role in LSU’s success this season, leading it back to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed.
“Throughout my journey with the sport, I never shied away from a challenge and that’s made me the competitor I am today,” Van Lith said. “Putting yourself in situations where you’re tested and proving that you can overcome internal or external pressure gives you confidence to play freely and lean into those competitive moments, like championship tournaments, with eagerness rather than fear. It’s critical to remind yourself that you’ve navigated pressure before and just focus on being the player and teammate you know you can be.”
LSU’s women’s basketball team has been the subject of quite a few big-time NIL deals, and you can add Van Lith’s commercial to that growing list.
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