The rise of Zia Cooke as one of the highest-paid athletes in college is a testament to how far women’s sports have come, and the power of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the NCAA that allows college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) in 2021.
Cooke is an African American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA who has already amassed a sizable following on social media, with around 282,000 followers on Instagram alone. This has allowed her to earn roughly $8,000 per advertising post on her page, making her one of the most sought-after endorsers in college sports.
As a player, Cooke has demonstrated her skills and talent as a leading scorer for South Carolina, helping the team reach the Final Four in the NCAA tournaments for three consecutive years, and leading them to win the 2022 NCAA Championship.
Cooke’s success is also a product of her own hard work and dedication to basketball, which has earned her recognition as a two-time All-SEC selection and a national champion and McDonald’s All-American honors. Her ability to attract sponsors and build a personal brand is a reflection of her popularity on and off the court, as demonstrated by her massive social media following and engagement.
In an interview with CBS News, Cooke expressed her gratitude for the opportunities that the NIL ruling has afforded her and other college athletes, “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’s talents haven’t gone unnoticed by those outside of college basketball, with superstar singer and philanthropist Rihanna’s brand, Fenty Skin, partnering with Cooke for a promotion. Through her lucrative endorsement deals, she has not only secured financial security but has also provided a blueprint for other young college athletes looking to earn a living from their talents.
However, Cooke is also focused on improving her skills as a basketball player and maintaining her commitment to South Carolina’s team goals. She stated that she doesn’t want to know how much money she has earned, and is instead focused on “staying focused on my best work.”
Africa Giant applaud Cooke’s achievement and recognises her as a promising force in the sport. As she continues to build her brand, Cooke represents a new era in college sports, where players can leverage their personal brands to not only support their passion for sports but also lay the foundation for future financial success.
