Opinion by ElenaBurt

Have you ever wondered how much Olivia Dunne makes in a year? This LSU gymnast’s talents and ability to woo the male population from ages… well… 1-100… pave the path for $3.5 million per year. 

She receives what is called NIL (name, image, and likeness); maybe you’ve heard of male football and basketball players in college who stand out enough to earn money from private investors of the NIL. Nonetheless, Livvy Dunne is able to earn that outstanding amount because of her talent, and the fact that she is objectively attractive. Perhaps her sport’s uniform is a little more suggestive than a sweaty basketball jersey. 

Another outstanding college athlete is Caitlin Clark, a basketball player for the Division I University of Iowa. I know what you’re probably thinking— “She can’t be that good if she only goes to that Iowa school in the middle of nowhere”— wrong! She is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are in the Big Ten Conference… pretty impressive lady, I’ll say. 

In a year, Clark makes $910,000 from NIL; while that is still an immense amount of money, especially for a young person in college, it is significantly less than the amount that Dunne makes. Why? 

Despite both of their amazing athletic successes and abilities, Dunne makes more in NIL money because of her popularity on social media. Although both young women are beautiful, of course, a female gymnast gets more attention on social media than a female basketball player for a reason.

I shouldn’t have to explain why, (I will) but a leotard is perhaps more revealing than loose jersey/shorts. Gymnasts mask their athleticism and exertion with a graceful representation, while basketball players represent their hard work through their heavy breathing, non-forced smiles, sweaty bodies, and red faces. 

This brings up the question: is the NIL really a positive thing for these young women? It can be a blow to one’s self-esteem when their peer is earning more money and attention because society is fond of their “attractiveness,” physically or personally. 

Although many feelings around the globe have probably been hurt, the NIL pays college athletes based on how marketable they are; therefore it makes sense that an Instagram and TikTok star makes more money than just a regular athlete, because they have more influence in the ever-growing social media land. 

To give some perspective, Dunne has 7.9 million followers on TikTok and 5.1 million followers on Instagram. Clark has 282.9 thousand followers on TikTok and 2 million followers on Instagram.

I will say, though, I think Caitlin Clark’s records should measure up to the fame that Livvy Dunne earned just for showing up to a couple College World Series games in Omaha last summer. 

One’s talents aren’t more valuable than another athlete’s talents, but Clark’s outstanding season should be making her the same amount or more money in NIL than Livvy Dunne, because they are equally as marketable, maybe just towards different audiences.