Attention is turned to the 2021 WNBA Draft following the 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. With an increase in viewership across women’s basketball at both the college and pro level, these hoopers are capturing more fanfare than ever. All eyes are on the next generation of WNBA stars headed into this week’s draft.
To understand the players’ marketing power, we analyzed the 2021 WNBA Draft prospects have the highest annual endorsement earning potential.
Our Process
We leverage decade of social media and payment data to establish a formula that offers a true market rate — an accurate assessment of what any given athlete can command in the market.
Potential Annual Earnings
Annual earnings are calculated by multiplying the athlete’s total per-post value with the estimated number of promotions per year the athlete could be expected to participate in.
The number of promotions per year are calculated based on actual transaction data from the professional athlete endorsement marketplace.
- The athlete’s social following and engagement impact their value per post.
- Their alma mater and sport impact potential promotions per year.
- Their individual accomplishments and experience impact promotions per year.
1. DiJonai Carrington | Baylor: $147,293
Splitting her college career between Stanford and Baylor, Carrington has a strong audience off the court. Carrington was a leader in Baylor’s NCAA tournament run, putting her in the squarely in the national spotlight. She’s been vocal about causes she cares about and showcases her fun and confident personality, relating to fans. The authenticity pays off.
2. Chelsea Dungee | Arkansas: $96,552
Dungee has a stacked list of on-court achievements dating back to her freshman year. She’s been in the spotlight for 4 years and has built a dedicated audience. Dungee isn’t the most active on social media, but has an engagement rate of 31.5% on Instagram. Her audience cares about her on and off the court.
3. DiDi Richards | Baylor: $88,476
One of the top defenders in the country, Richards was another Baylor Bear in the national spotlight during the NCAA tournament. From making the Big 12 All-Rookie Team in 2018 to being named the 2020 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, she’s been in the spotlight and has built an invested audience.
4. Kysre Gondrezick | West Virginia: $83,861
The most-followed WNBA Draft prospect with a combined Twitter and Instagram audience of 132 thousand followers, Gondrezick has been active in sharing her life and interests throughout her college career. She shares her love of fashion just as much as her love of basketball, capturing the attention of those who have an interest in both.
5. Aari McDonald | Arizona: $63,075
Aari McDonald had all eyes on her during Arizona’s NCAA Tournament run, capturing media attention with her on-court performance. McDonald’s social media audience grew by 232% in the week between the Elite Eight and Championship game.
Top 5 Prospects Per Category:
#6 -10 in Estimated Annual Endorsement Earnings
Most Followers (Instagram + Twitter)
Instagram Engagement Rate
