• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Players Era NIL Tourney to Add Women’s Basketball in 2025

The Players Era Festival will offer some of the top teams in women’s basketball a chance to come to Vegas, play games—and earn $1 million each in NIL money.

Nov 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks center Sakima Walker (35) and UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) jockey for rebounding position during the fourth quarter at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory
Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Players Era Festival, the weeklong Las Vegas basketball tournament that paid out more than $9 million in NIL (name, image, and likeness) money to participating players, is expanding to women’s basketball.

It announced today that in 2025 it will put on a four-team women’s round-robin tournament featuring No. 1 UCLA, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 6 Texas, and No. 9 Duke. In addition to competing against some of the best teams on the court, each team will receive $1 million in guaranteed NIL opportunities off it.

The women’s tournament will be held Thanksgiving weekend alongside the men’s tourney at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, which Players Era has secured to a five-year deal. Players Era CEO Seth Berger told Front Office Sports that the women’s side wants to expand to eight in 2026.

“Players Era is creating the first-ever tentpole women’s college basketball MTE [multi-team event] with an unbelievably loaded field and fascinating storylines, early season matchups that are sure to set
the tone for the rest of the season,” Berger said in a press release.

South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley echoed that sentiment, noting that the festival “brings together everything we’re looking for—quality games early in the season, a great location for fans to come and enjoy, and NIL opportunities for our players.”

The inaugural men’s tournament, which kicked off Nov. 26, featured eight teams, four of them ranked in the AP Top 25 poll at the start of competition: No. 6 Houston, No. 9 Alabama, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 21 Creighton, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, and San Diego State. Oregon went undefeated in the tournament, beating Alabama in the championship game to catapult itself into the Top 25.

The organizers plan to expand to 18 teams next year, retaining the initial eight while adding Gonzaga, Baylor, Iowa State, St. John’s, St. Joseph’s, and Michigan. Berger said that, on the opening day of the tournament—which aired on TBS as Jazz GM Danny Ainge and Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. scouted from the stands—he was fielding calls from top teams wanting to round out the field.

Players Era is testing out a new model for in-season college basketball, luring fans and teams alike with the promise of a March Madness feel in November—and sweetening the pot by distributing at least $1 million to each team. That money comes from players participating in NIL opportunities off the court, rather than basketball activities on it; teams participating in the festival sit for everything from autograph signings with fans to meet-and-greets with sponsors.

Given the level of interest from top-tier teams, the model seems to be working.

Creighton paid to get out of its contract with the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in order to come to Vegas instead. San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher, meanwhile, said strength of schedule was an even bigger motivator for him in accepting an invitation. “I don’t want to tell them this because they might not pay us, but I’d have come for free to play this kind of competition.”

Securing South Carolina and UCLA on the women’s side is a minor coup. The Bruins knocked off reigning champ South Carolina in November to end the Gamecocks’ 43-game win streak and seize the top spot in the AP rankings.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Blue Jays $280M Payroll Pays Off With a Trip to the World..

Toronto is back in the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years.
Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with his players against the Florida Gators in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.

Bruce Pearl: ‘The One Thing’ I Miss About Coaching

FOS interviewed ex-Auburn coach on his move to TNT Sports.

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Doubleheaders Will End—If NFL Equity Deal Clears

ESPN is broadcasting its fourth “MNF” doubleheader this season.
Indiana

Indiana Is the Center of the Sports World—Again

After successful NBA and WNBA seasons, Indiana’s football teams are thriving.

Featured Today

@chef__tezz/Instagram

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
October 16, 2025

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
BYU

BYU Lost Its Star QB This Summer. Now It’s One of the..

The Cougars are thriving with a true freshman at quarterback.
October 19, 2025

Florida, Colorado State Firings Push CFB Buyouts Past $100M

Nine FBS head coaches have been fired since the season started.
October 19, 2025

Beyond Ohio State, It’s Another Massive Shake-Up in the CFB Top 25

Nine of the top 10 teams changed positions in Week 9.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium.
October 17, 2025

Belichick’s UNC Saga Now Includes GM Trip to Saudi Arabia

UNC GM Michael Lombardi traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Cignetti
October 17, 2025

Curt Cignetti Lands Third Contract in Just 19 Games With Indiana

Cignetti signed a new contract five days after Indiana upset Oregon.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
October 16, 2025

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”
Tortillas
October 16, 2025

Texas Tech-Kansas Tortilla-Knife Mess Ends With $50K in Fines

Texas Tech’s tortilla tradition got both teams in trouble.