WWE Continues to Expand Its Unique NIL Program

Several professional sports entities have dipped their toes into the first year of the name, image, and likeness era. 

But perhaps none have done so at the scale of WWE, which created a multi-athlete program called “Next In Line” last year. 

The group includes major stars, including Miami basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder and Olympic gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson.

Now, the league is announcing a second slate of 15 athletes, who will be formally introduced at the NIL Summit in Atlanta on Monday night.

The program includes 31 athletes from seven sports and conferences, and 14 schools, from Hampton to Arizona State.

The goal of the program is twofold: educational resources, and a career path. 

It offers athletes a slate of business-related education opportunities, from building their brands and creative writing to media training. 

And at the end of the program, athletes have the opportunity to potentially sign with the league. 

The pipeline has already yielded results.

Of its inaugural class, the league said that all six athletes had signed or were considering doing so.