What is NIL?

NIL stands for "Name, Image, and Likeness" and refers to NCAA guidance that will allow student-athletes to earn compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness. This new legislation will allow student-athletes to earn compensation in ways that were previously impermissible under NCAA rules.

How will student-athletes be able to capitalize on NIL?

Under the new rules, student-athletes will be able to use their name, image or likeness, just like other students at PLU, to earn compensation for any of the following activities:

Social media promotions and influencer activities
Starting their own business
Appearance in TV or print advertisements
Other endorsements of a third-party
Providing private sport lessons or running a camp or clinic
Personal appearances

What resources are available to PLU Student-Athletes?

In October of 2021, Pacific Lutheran University became just the second NCAA Division III institution and the first on the West Coast to partner with Opendorse and take advantage of the company's suite of services – empowering PLU student-athletes to understand, build, and protect their brands with industry-leading education and marketing resources. In 2022, PLU became the first NCAA Division III school to have a dedicated NIL marketplace on the Opendorse platform.

In partnering with Opendorse, PLU will be utilizing the same platform used by student-athletes from power five programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pacific 12 Conference, and the Southeastern Conference.

Opendorse is a one stop shop for Lute student-athletes to locate NIL deals, disclose NIL deals to the compliance office, and access photos and media from the Sports Information office.

Learn more about PLU's Opendorse Partnership: LINK

Luteville Marketplace

The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website: LINK

How Easy is it for Lute Student-Athletes to get NIL Deals?

It's as easy as signing up on Opendorse and browsing for deals. But don't take our word for it, here's what PLU softball's Kennadi Wuebel has to say about inking an NIL deal...

Or hear from PLU student-athletes Darius Chaffin and Kiana Gutierrez who did a once in a lifetime photo shoot with apparel giant Under Armour. Full Story Link: HERE

PLU Partners with Athlete's Thread for Customized NIL Apparel

The PLU Athletic Department added another partnership in winter of 2024, inking a deal with Athlete's Thread to allow every Lute student-athlete to sell customizable gear and jerseys with their name and number and receive monetary compensation for a portion of each sale.

The Lutes become just the second NCAA Division III institution to ink a deal with Athlete's Thread, a company that has partnerships with several Division I Power Five programs including the University of Alabama, University of Southern California, and Syracuse University. In addition to being the second D3 school, the Lutes are the first program from the State of Washington to partner with Athlete's Thread. (LINK TO STORE)